Senior Software Engineer - Microservices & PostgreSQL

Job Summary: Realta is a dynamic and innovative technology company dedicated to reshaping the landscape of financial risk and compliance management. We seek a product-minded Senior Software Engineer with deep expertise in developing scalable microservices and strong proficiency in PostgreSQL to join our talented team at the Fraud & Risk Management Research & Development Centre of Excellence in Limerick. At Realta, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all qualified people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. We believe that different perspectives strengthen our team and help us grow together. Visa sponsorship may be available for the right candidate, in line with Irish employment permit regulation. Position Overview: As a Senior Software Engineer, you will work towards designing, building and maintaining our low-latency and high-throughput platform using the best database and software engineering practices while collaborating with other software engineers, architects, SDETs, product managers and stakeholders. This platform will leverage the power of artificial intelligence to address the complex challenges of fraud detection, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance in the financial industry. This position will be responsible for the full software development life cycle, including, but not limited to: designing highly concurrent microservices, API design and implementation, complex database schema design and query optimization, system architecture, unit testing, and production observability. How you will contribute: Architect, build, and maintain high-performance microservices (using Java/Go) that interact seamlessly with our PostgreSQL infrastructure.Execute code reviews and other peer review processes (e.g., pair programming) to ensure code quality and security practices.Design efficient database schemas, data models, and complex queries to support distributed microservice architectures.Implement efficient table partitioning strategies (e.g., declarative partitioning) and data retention models to support low-latency querying at high volume.Diagnose and resolve database execution bottlenecks in production, analyzing EXPLAIN ANALYZE query plans, locking issues, and table/index bloat.Triage product and systems issues, including debugging and monitoring, aiming to resolve problems and identify root causes.Research new technologies, including hands-on technical evaluation and POCs.Collaborate with software engineers, architects, UI/UX designers, and product managers to deliver high-quality solutions.Produce and contribute to high-quality documentation.Participate in conversations and workshops with stakeholders to understand requirements and identify solutions and opportunities.Lead technical design reviews and cultivate a culture of engineering excellence through proactive mentorship and knowledge sharing. What we need from you: 5+ years professional engineering, including ownership of backend services in production backed by PostgreSQL at scale (e.g., self-hosted, AWS RDS/Aurora, CloudSQL).Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, or relevant experience.In-depth knowledge of a selected programming language (e.g., Java 17+, Go).In-depth knowledge of database engine and mechanics (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL), including MVCC, autovacuum behavior, table/index bloat, transaction isolation levels, and lock escalation.Experience with application-side database optimization: managing complex schema migrations (e.g., Flyway/Liquibase), implementing advanced indexing, partitioning data for application scale, and configuring application-layer connection pooling.Experience working with Java-based microservices frameworks (e.g., Quarkus, SpringBoot).Experience in analysing and optimising Java memory footprints for containerised environments.Experience with testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit, Mockito, JaCoCo, TestContainers).Experience working with RESTful APIs and familiarity with gRPC (Protobuf).Experience with building and package tools (e.g., Maven, Gradle).Experience with containerisation tools (e.g., Docker, Podman, Buildpack, Jib).Experience deploying applications onto cloud-native environments (e.g., AWS, GCP).Experience implementing security standards and best practices ensuring compliance with data privacy and security regulations (e.g., OAuth2/OIDC and JWT, Encryption, OWASP Top 10).Knowledge of OpenAPI specification.Knowledge of software versioning control using Git and related platforms (e.g., GitHub, GitLab).Experience working in the financial services, financial technology and risk management industry.Experience in defending architectural choices to stakeholders.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable discussing technical information.We are looking for individuals with the potential to learn and grow, and we strive to provide a supportive environment for developing your skills. If Realta and this role sound like a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the qualifications listed above. Strong candidates rarely tick every single box, and research shows that individuals from underrepresented groups are especially likely to underestimate their readiness. Please don’t discount yourself prematurely, we want to hear from you. Benefits We offer a competitive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. Our benefits include: Generous annual leaveHybrid workingFamily friendly policiesComprehensive healthcare plan and supportPension planOpportunities for learning and career developmentA workplace culture that values diversity, equity and inclusionWe understand everyone has commitments outside of work, and where possible we aim to help you balance your career and personal life. Additional information: This is a hybrid role in our Limerick City office that includes work from home and assigned office days set by your manager. Disclaimer: The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Realta reserves the right to alter this description at any time. Realta practices the concept of equal employment opportunity with respect to hiring, promotions, transfers, pay, discipline, fringe benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. No individual will be discriminated against, and no employment decisions will be made, on the basis of an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, protected disability, marital status, familial status, veteran status, height, weight or citizenship.