Lead Backend Data Engineer

Blend is a premier AI services provider, committed to co-creating meaningful impact for its clients through the power of data science, AI, technology, and people. With a mission to fuel bold visions, Blend tackles significant challenges by seamlessly aligning human expertise with artificial intelligence. The company is dedicated to unlocking value and fostering innovation for its clients by harnessing world-class people and data-driven strategy. We believe that the power of people and AI can have a meaningful impact on your world, creating more fulfilling work and projects for our people and clients. For more information, visit

We are seeking a Lead Backend Data Engineer to contribute to our next level of growth and expansion.

Job Description

What is this position about?

• Design and build scalable backend systems using Java, with deep expertise in production-grade application development.
• Lead the architecture and implementation of distributed systems, ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance across complex multi-service environments handling large-scale data processing.
• Develop and optimize concurrent and multi-threaded applications, implementing thread synchronization patterns, locks, barriers, and atomic operations for high-performance, data-intensive systems.
• Build and maintain big data pipelines and infrastructure to handle high-volume data ingestion, processing, and storage at scale.
• Manage containerized workloads using Kubernetes, defining deployment strategies, scaling policies, and resource management for backend services processing big data workloads.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define service contracts, APIs, and integration patterns.
• Implement observability and monitoring solutions to ensure system health and performance visibility.
• Support production deployments, troubleshoot complex issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Deep proficiency in Java with strong understanding of advanced language features and best practices.
• Solid expertise in concurrency patterns, multi-threading, thread synchronization (locks, barriers, mutexes), atomic operations, and volatile semantics.
• Proven hands-on experience designing and implementing distributed systems, including challenges like consistency, fault tolerance, and data replication.
• Practical knowledge of Kubernetes for container orchestration, deployment strategies, and service management (production-level exposure expected).
• Strong SQL and database design fundamentals.
• Experience with system profiling, performance analysis, and optimization techniques.
• Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools such as Grafana, Prometheus, or Loki.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex, distributed system issues.
• Strong communication skills and ability to mentor and collaborate with team members.
• Experience with Spring Framework or other modern Java backend frameworks is a plus.
• Background in Kafka or event-streaming architectures is a plus.
• Familiarity with reactive programming frameworks or reactive systems design is a plus.
• Prior experience in programmatic advertising or real-time data processing systems is a plus.

What about languages?

English: Advanced (required for effective communication with global teams)

How much experience must I have?

5+ years of experience in Backend Engineering or related disciplines such as Systems Engineering or Full-Stack Development, with demonstrated expertise in distributed systems and multi-threaded application design.

Additional Information

Our Perks and Benefits:

Every day lunches! (headquarters):

• Vegetarian, vegan, gluten and sugar free options.
• Gourmet meals every Friday with our on-site chef!

⚖️ Flexible working options to help you strike the right balance.

All the equipment you need to harness your talent (Macbook and accessories).

Snacks and beverages available everyday (headquarters).

After office events, football, tennis and game nights (headquarters).

⚽ Everyone is welcome to join our football league every Wednesday's and Friday's.

Challenge your teammates to a pool game and win the office's trophy!

Tennis courts available for friendly matches.

Not a sports person? Don't worry, we also have chess championships, game and music nights for you to join!

Learning opportunities:

• AWS Certifications (we are AWS Partners).
• Study plans, courses and other certifications.
• English Lessons.
• Learn from your teammates on our Tech Tuesdays!

Mentoring and Development opportunities to shape your career path.

Anniversary and birthday gifts.

Great location and even greater teammates!

So what are the next steps? Our team is eager to learn about you! Send us your resume or LinkedIn profile below and we'll explore working together!