Senior Backend Developer

Senior Backend Developer

We are seeking a Senior Backend Developer with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience building and scaling backend systems. This role requires strong communication skills and technical depth in backend architecture, performance-driven engineering, and secure, maintainable code practices. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a test-driven, AI-assisted development environment and will play a key role in shaping the reliability and scalability of our backend systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design scalable backend systems and services with a focus on performance, maintainability, and security.
• Leverage AI-driven development tools (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, or similar) to accelerate development, improve code quality, and enhance team productivity.
• Collaborate with product managers, frontend developers, and other stakeholders to deliver business-critical features.
• Translate business requirements to AI agent‑ready technical specifications.
• Review pull requests from peer developers and AI agents.
• Drive development practices that emphasize test‑driven development (TDD) and high-quality, automated test coverage.
• Build, optimize, and maintain relational, key‑value and time‑series databases ensuring efficient queries, schema design, and scalability.
• Apply security best practices across the stack, ensuring robust protection against vulnerabilities and compliance with standards.
• Monitor and improve system performance (latency, throughput, scalability, resource efficiency).
• Mentor and support other developers, fostering a culture of excellence, learning, and innovation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional backend development experience.
• Excellent communication skills in English (Dutch is a strong plus).
• Proven expertise in backend architecture and system design.
• Strong proficiency in Golang; experience with Rust is a strong plus.
• Familiarity and experience with AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, or equivalent).
• Solid background in database schema design, optimization, and advanced queries.
• Demonstrated experience with test‑driven development (TDD) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Deep knowledge of security best practices (e.g., OWASP, secure coding standards).
• Hands‑on experience with cloud‑native environments (Kubernetes, containers, service).
• Knowledge of distributed systems and high data throughput.
• Experience in performance tuning and high‑throughput, low‑latency system design.

Benefits

• Duration: 6 months initially. Upon satisfactory performance, the contract will be immediately converted to a permanent position.
• Probation Period: Not applicable.
• Location: Utrecht (full‑time office presence; no hybrid or remote work).
• Working Hours: 38 hours per week plus 2 additional ADV leave hours.
• Holiday Allowance: 8% of annual salary.
• Bonus Scheme:
  • 8% based on company performance and achievement of Balanz’s business objectives.
  • 2% based on personal goals agreed upon with your manager.
• Company Regulations: Will form part of the employment agreement; currently under development.
• Vacation Days: 21 vacation days and 12 ADV days per calendar year, with full salary.
• Sick Leave: 100% salary during the first 6 months; thereafter 80%.
• Pension Plan:
  • Employer contribution: 8%
  • Employee contribution: 4%
• Travel Costs:
  • Public transport: fully reimbursed.
  • Own transport: €0.23 per kilometer.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Balanz is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or veteran status.