Intermediate/Senior Backend Engineer (.NET)

About Kernel and Role Overview

Kernel is a 100% Kiwi owned fintech company focused on democratizing wealth for all New Zealanders. Their investment platform consolidates KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, US shares, ETFs and Smart Saver accounts and supports over 80,000 investors. The company is undergoing rapid growth, expanding its engineering team to build robust foundational systems.

The Intermediate/Senior Backend Engineer will take ownership of Kernel's backend services powering the investment platform, directly impacting thousands of Kiwi customers striving towards major financial goals. You will work closely with a small product-aligned team, collaborating with Product and Design teams, and report to the Engineering Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and operate backend APIs and integrations for KiwiSaver, investing, and savings products.
• Manage your deliverables end-to-end—from initial design, implementation, to production deployment and support.
• Write clean, clear, and testable code in C# utilizing functional programming principles for reliability and maintainability.
• Leverage AWS serverless technologies such as Lambda and DynamoDB within a cloud-native architecture.
• Work across both monolithic and microservices architectures, contributing to architectural evolution as the platform scales.
• Emphasize quality through integrated testing, observability, and collaboration with QAs who mentor rather than just test.
• Engage in thorough planning and deliver frequently in small, meaningful increments using feature flags as appropriate.
• Participate in code reviews and pairing to share knowledge and foster team growth.
• Collaborate effectively with Product and Design teams to translate customer needs into dependable features.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Proven commercial experience developing and operating backend systems in production environments.
• Strong proficiency in C# and the .NET ecosystem, with enthusiasm for functional programming approaches.
• Experience working with cloud platforms, preferably AWS; strong Azure experience also relevant.
• Familiarity with NoSQL databases such as DynamoDB, beyond traditional relational databases.
• Solid understanding of API design, distributed systems, and building scalable backend solutions.
• Ownership of production systems, including deployment, monitoring, troubleshooting, and continual improvement.
• Good software engineering practices including code reviews, automated testing, and managing technical debt.
• Thoughtful adoption and cautious use of AI tools in development workflows.
• Excellent communication skills for technical discussions and providing constructive feedback.
• Curious and adaptable, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and ambiguity.

Additional Assets (Bonus)

• Hands-on experience with functional programming in C# or other programming languages.
• Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code concepts.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines like GitHub Actions.
• Some experience with TypeScript or React (helpful but not required).

Why Work at Kernel?

• Impact over 80,000 New Zealand investors' financial futures with the systems you build.
• Influence product and engineering decisions from the outset.
• Work in a collaborative, curious environment that embraces modern development practices and AI exploration.
• Join a trustful and flexible team culture with open communication and valued feedback.
• Competitive salary reviewed annually, plus performance-based bonuses.
• Enjoy a hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days onsite weekly and options to work from home.
• Southern Cross health insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions, plus discounted family coverage.
• Receive 13 weeks of parental leave top-up paid to full salary and access confidential wellbeing support.
• Support for professional development and a personal learning budget.
• Additional company holidays, and office perks like snacks, coffee, and a dog-friendly environment.

Application Information

Kernel encourages candidates who might not meet every criterion but demonstrate growth potential, impact, and the right mindset to apply. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their enthusiasm for the position and the company, alongside their CV.