Let's talk about Back-End Engineering

... why do you enjoy working as a Backend Engineer at XING?

I am a Junior Back-End Developer at the Commerce Platform Team, where we automate processes and develop features for the e-commerce funnel. There are many reasons why I love working here. Some of them are the amazing team I work with, all the learning opportunities provided, and the technologies we use. It is a place where I feel both challenged and supported, and that balance keeps me motivated.

What does a typical working day in your role look like?

It depends on the day, but in general, we start anytime between 8 and 10 o'clock, and around 10:30 o'clock we have a standup. We share what we are working on and what we need help with. If we need help with something there is always someone else in the team willing to help. We stay in touch with each other through Teams, and when extra support is needed, we usually jump on a quick call or pair up in person. If we are working at the office, around 13 o'clock we like to have lunch together with whoever is also at the office, we like to mingle. That sense of connection, whether remote or in-person, really helps us stay aligned and move forward together. 

How would you describe the working atmosphere in your team?

We have a very collaborative way of working. We regularly share updates on what we’re working on, whether it’s individual tasks or pairing on something together. If someone gets stuck, there’s always a teammate ready to jump in and help.

Feedback is also a big part of our culture. We’re encouraged to give and receive feedback openly, which helps us learn from each other and grow together.

Whether it’s our daily standups or shared lunch breaks at the office, there’s always space to connect and support one another. Our leads foster an environment where everyone’s voice matters, they’re approachable, and decisions are often made collaboratively.

We also make time for fun. Every year, we organize a team gathering in one location where we can enjoy activities together and connect beyond work.

Can you give us some insights into your latest Back-End project?

In our latest project, we’ve been working on back-end processes that streamline the e-commerce funnel, both for recruiters purchasing job ads on our platform and for our internal Sales team.

On the one hand, we’ve built features that improve the recruiter’s journey by reducing friction in the purchasing process. On the other hand, we’re ensuring that the data behind the scenes flows correctly and is accurately stored in our systems, so our sales colleagues can access everything they need without manual effort.

The goal is to make the experience more seamless and reliable for everyone involved, and it’s very exciting to work on something that directly improves both user experience and operational efficiency.

What Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics does your team focus on when evaluating the success of a Back-End project?

We look at several things to evaluate the success of our projects. Our product owner tracks KPIs like how many users interact with a feature and how it impacts revenue, this helps us understand adoption and business relevance.

On the technical side, we as developers focus on monitoring error rates, system behavior, and logs using Datadog, especially after a release. This helps us catch issues early and make sure everything is running smoothly.

Are there any initiatives in place that allow team members to pitch new ideas or improvements related to Back-End technologies?

Whenever we spot something that could be improved, we bring it up with the team and figure out the best way to move forward together. For example, we had a part of the codebase that we realized would be difficult to extend in the future. Some of our teammates took the initiative to investigate refactoring options, presented their ideas to the rest of the team, and then worked on implementing the changes. Thanks to that effort, developing new features in that area became much smoother.

We also have the Innovation Week and Hack Week, which happen once a year. During these weeks, we step away from our regular tasks and focus on developing new ideas or projects that we believe can bring value to the product or improve how we work. It's a great opportunity to explore creative solutions and experiment with new technologies.

What tools and technologies do you regularly use for Back-End development, version control, and task management?

In our team, we use TypeScript for backend development, Git for version control, and Docker for containerization. We work with Kafka to handle real-time data streams across systems. For task and sprint management, we use Jira to plan, track, and align on priorities.

Can you describe any mentoring or learning opportunities available within your Engineering team?

We have a personal learning budget that everyone at the company can use for courses, classes, or learning platforms we find useful for our development.

Also, we can always ask each other for help when there’s something a teammate is more experienced in, it’s a great way to learn and improve together. People here are always happy to help, and that makes a big difference.

What’s the best incentive you’ve received so far at XING?

I believe that one of the best incentives is the flexibility we have in our day-to-day work. Being able to adjust my working hours and choose whether to work remotely or in the office really helps me maintain a healthy work-life balance.

I also really value the supportive and collaborative culture within the team and the company. It creates a space where it’s easy to grow, ask questions, and feel like your work matters.

On top of that, having a personal learning budget is a big plus. It allows each of us to invest in our own development, in the way that fits us best.

What qualities do you think are essential for succeeding in Back-End Engineering at XING? Do you have any tips for someone considering applying to the team?

I believe everyone has something unique to contribute to a team of Developers. Apart from the hard skills, I’d say some essential qualities for succeeding in backend engineering are curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning.

From my own experience, being open to asking questions and not being afraid to say “I don’t know yet” has helped me grow a lot — especially in such a supportive environment.

Are there any emerging technologies or trends in Back-End Development that you find particularly exciting or believe will be significant in the future?

AI has been a big trend in the last couple of years, and some of the processes we work on already include it. Of course, we’ll keep growing with it. It’s exciting to see how it can improve our services and make things more efficient.