Senior Backend Developer

Company description Saatchi & Saatchi is part of Publicis Group Canada and is an advertising agency with the belief that creativity, data, media and technology should all work together, and we use that to influence human behavior and drive success for clients. S&S is one of the world's largest agency networks with 114 offices and more than 6000 employees globally. Here in our Toronto office we work with some of the countries most valued brands including Toyota, Buckley's, and Children's Advil, as well as several under the Mondelez banner (Crispers, Oreo, and Chips Ahoy just to name a few). We’re an award winning agency in both creativity and effectiveness, so it’s really important for us here to convert that innovation and the great ideas into real tangible business results for the organization. Overview Saatchi & Saatchi Canada is excited to announce a new opening for a Senior Backend Developer to join an innovative, forward-thinking AI initiative. This role is available as full-time or freelance, with immediate start options. You’ll bring 6+ years of experience building robust, scalable backend systems with Java. You are passionate about clean architecture, API design, and building services that power intelligent applications. You understand the importance of performance, security, and creating systems that are accessible and reliable for all users. Responsibilities Design and develop scalable backend services and APIs using Java and Spring Boot. Build microservices architecture that supports AI/ML integration and real-time processing requirements. Develop RESTful APIs that are well-documented, versioned, and designed for accessibility across diverse client applications. Implement secure authentication and authorization mechanisms for enterprise users. Integrate with AI/ML services, LLM APIs, and other intelligent automation capabilities. Optimize application performance, including database queries, caching strategies, and async processing. Collaborate with front-end developers, data engineers, and DevOps to deliver end-to-end solutions. Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and documentation efforts. Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and maintain high code quality through automated testing. Qualifications +6 years of professional experience in backend development. Strong proficiency in Java (11+) and the Spring ecosystem (Spring Boot, Spring Security, Spring Data). Experience designing and building RESTful APIs and microservices architectures. Familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP preferred) with willingness to develop deeper expertise. Experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL or similar) and query optimization. Familiarity with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis, or similar) for appropriate use cases. Understanding of containerization concepts (Docker) and cloud-native development patterns. Experience with message queuing and event-driven architectures. Understanding of security best practices including OAuth 2.0, JWT, and API security. Experience with Git version control and collaborative development workflows. Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (JUnit, Mockito, integration testing). Required Soft Skills Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Excellent communication skills for technical discussions and documentation. Collaborative mindset for working with cross-functional teams. Self-motivated with ability to work independently and manage priorities. Attention to detail with commitment to code quality and best practices. Passion for learning new technologies and staying current with industry trends. Nice to Have Experience integrating with AI/ML services and LLM APIs (OpenAI, Vertex AI, etc.). Experience with multiple cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure). Experience with GraphQL or gRPC for API development. Knowledge of reactive programming (Spring WebFlux, Project Reactor). Experience with API gateway patterns and service mesh technologies. Familiarity with OpenAPI/Swagger for API documentation. Additional Information Fully remote position; candidates must already be based in Canada and have legal work authorization in the country. Competitive annual vacation program, enhanced between Christmas and New Year’s when our offices are closed. Extended statutory holidays (we give you the Mondays and Fridays of provincial holidays so you can enjoy long 4-day weekends). 6 sick days per year and 2 personal days per year. “Work Your World” program, allowing you to work remotely for up to 6 weeks in any country where we have an office (50+ countries). Comprehensive group insurance benefits (medical and dental care, vision care, psychological and paramedical services, disability insurance, fertility support, and gender-affirming care). Internal support and guidance program for cancer, fertility, and gender transition. Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $80,000-$130,000 per year. Actual compensation within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and applicable certifications. This range reflects what we reasonably expect to offer based on current market data. Saatchi is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties. Accommodations are available, upon request, for all stages of the interview and employment process for those with a disability or medical need during any stage of the recruitment process. We thank all candidates for their interest in PublicisMedia, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. AI Use We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications or analyzing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but never replace human decision-making. We believe in a human-first approach, where your experience and potential are recognized by people. #J-18808-Ljbffr