Backend Engineer

Big Red Group is the largest experience network in Australia and New Zealand. A powerful connector that provides more than 3000 experience operators with quality customers and the tourism industry with trusted intelligence and partnership.

Australian owned, Big Red Group operates an industry-leading platform, enabling the wholesale distribution of experiences through domestic and international partners, powering its renowned domestic marketplaces RedBalloon, Adrenaline, Experience Oz, and Everything NZ. Equipping in-destination experience retailing through hotels and travel agents through its Local Agent offering. As well as a suite of software products and services to support experience operators grow their businesses.

With a purpose to 'shift the way people experience life', Big Red Group seeks to reduce the tide of consumption. Encouraging people to choose 'stories over stuff' at every opportunity. Together with our experience operators,

we are on track to deliver an experience every second by 2030.

We are The Experience Network.

We're building out the platform behind tens of thousands of experiences across Australia and New Zealand - and we're hiring two Senior Backend Engineers to join our small, fast-moving teams to take it further.

As a Backend Engineer, you will be heavily involved in working on our key roadmap projects focused on consolidation and growth. Bringing your strong experience in Java, as well as an understanding in multi-tier Architecture, you will join our agile working environment as part of our project teams to deliver real impact to the changing not just the technical landscape of the BRG, but also the experiences our customers have with us.

We're creating a platform that connects partners, businesses, and customers across the experiences industry - from gifting to direct bookings. We're a major player in ANZ, and we're investing in our platform for the future and a global stage.

How We Work

• Projects run end-to-end in weeks, not months.
• We favour clarity over cleverness, and simplicity over complexity.
• Constraints fuel our creativity - we build lean, smart, and fast.

Our Stack

• AWS ECS, AWS RDS, Redis, Terraform, GitHub + GitHub Actions, Datadog
• Micronaut (Java 17, 21), Grails, , React), MySQL, OpenAPI, AI
• Gradle, Webpack

Key Responsibilities

• You will work across roadmap projects that will significantly enhance the way we operate as a business and improve our tech stack
• You'll get to partner with functions across the business to understand the problems we are trying to solve and the downstream impact of your work.
• You can bring your ideas to the table for debate and discussion to help shape the future direction of the product.
• Be involved in design and architecture discussions across four major roadmap projects, which touch almost all layers of our technology environment
• Deliver high-quality code in a small, agile team
• Identifying areas for improvement or modification in existing programs and subsequently developing them

• Clear Communicator: in code, documentation and ideas
• Product-minded Engineer: you care about customer impact, code quality, design and maintainability and you know what good engineering looks like
• Ownership: capable of driving solutions end-to-end across the SDLC with minimal guidance
• Pragmatism: you know when to ship quickly and when to refine
• Well Rounded: experienced in test-automation, debugging, troubleshooting, performance tuning, scaling and marking trade-offs to deliver steady, sustainable outcomes

At Big Red Group, we're a high-growth, technology-led business that embraces innovation and change in a flexible, hybrid environment. Here, you'll join a passionate team dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences, and be part of a company recognised as an employer of choice in Australia.

What Sets Us Apart:

• Community Focus: Expect team days, co-design sessions, and learning opportunities. Our ESG commitment shapes everything we do, from responsible sourcing to sustainable office practices. Enjoy our Sydney office, located in the heart of Circular Quay with views of the Opera House.

• Genuine Connections: Build relationships beyond work with quarterly roadshows, employee resource groups, book clubs, offsites, and social events.

• Commitment to Your Growth: We offer 30 work-from-anywhere days, leadership development, Talent Academies, mentorship, paid parental leave, and wellness support to prioritize your growth and well-being.

Our Hybrid Culture approach sees all of our teams in-office three days a week for collaboration, including our Monday All In Day with a community lunch for the whole team. We believe we are better together.

At Big Red Group, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation and success. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone – regardless of background, identity, or ability – has the opportunity to thrive.