Senior Software Engineer

Expected start date

ASAP (position is open if you can still read this)

Positions Open

05

Experience required

03 to 04 years of working in a rapid startup environment

Education required

Education is flexible; however, a background in engineering is a plus

Salary package

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• Monthly performance-based increments & cash bonuses

Perks

• Opportunity to work & grow with a Y-Combinator backed Founder who has been doing startups for more than a decade

• More than 90% of customers are based in the USA (get exposure working on cutting-edge/disruptive tech)

• Opportunity to travel abroad and gain invaluable exposure

  • We have offices in Pakistan, Qatar & America.

• Experience Hyper-growth in your career based on the Silicon Valley mindset

• A strong base salary

• Flexible working hours

• High performance oriented and resilient work environment / workstation

• Company Issued Laptops/ Electronic Devices based on need and performance

• Free Food ( Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner/ Snacks/ Fruits and Beverages)

• 24/7 Access to the office

• Performance base paid cool-off period

• Dedicated time / Access to a plethora of Learning Resources

• Knowledge base mini library present at the office

• Fastest network (internet) in Pakistan

• Medical insurance, treatment and employee care for astronauts

• Overnight Stay Facilitation: Sleeping pods and Lockers

• Recreational activities / trips

• Highest Grade Massage Chairs

• Gaming corner - PS5

• Insured parking space

• Support team available for facilitation of employees

• Taxation, Accounts and legal assistance for the employees.

• The best work culture/team environment in the world! Primed to set you up for either running your own company or being a C-Level Executive in one.

Location

• Full-time - Islamabad, Pakistan (F-7 Markaz)

• This position requires you to travel Internationally to the MENA region and beyond if necessary.

• Based upon your exceptional performance, you might be allocated to the International Operating Base.

About Cowlar

Cowlar is a venture-funded, Y-combinator start-up creating & delivering world-class engineering products and solutions in Retail, Industrial Automation, Enterprise Software Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Robotics, Industry 4.0, and associated fields. Our exceptional team uses engineering best practices and a first-principles approach to solving complex problems and delivering enterprise-scale projects at warp speed.

With a culture that empowers big ideas and a focus on making our people the best version of themselves through continuous upskilling and enablement, we believe this is a place where exceptional talent comes together to make magic happen across multiple verticals. We’re looking for like-minded people who understand our mission and are willing to become part of the journey.

We’re looking for people who are not afraid of learning something new, who focus on hypergrowth, teach others what they have learnt and uphold the culture of the company. The ideal candidate should be self-driven and motivated. We want to work with people who realize their own potential and can execute quickly. We do not compromise on quality and your role should be to raise the bar and motivate others to be at their best.

Important Further Reading:

We value our culture above all else - Please go through this Culture Document carefully to understand our culture, values and what we represent.

Check out our website: cowlardesignstudio.com

To learn more about the type of work we have done.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Client Engagement & Requirements

   1. Collaborate with stakeholders to understand and analyze business requirements

   2. Translate business needs into technical requirements and specifications

   3. Participate in client meetings to gather feedback and provide technical insights

   4. Conduct feasibility analysis of proposed features and functionalities

   5. Present technical solutions to stakeholders and explain complex concepts clearly

2. Architecture & Design

   1. Design and develop robust software architecture for new projects

   2. Create detailed technical specifications and system design documents

   3. Evaluate and select appropriate technologies and frameworks for projects

   4. Ensure architecture meets scalability, performance, and security requirements

   5. Implement design patterns and best practices in system architecture

3. Development Process

   1. Break down complex projects into manageable tasks and sprints

   2. Estimate the time and resources required for development tasks

   3. Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code across the frontend and backend

   4. Implement best coding practices, standards, and style guides

   5. Develop RESTful APIs, microservices, and other backend components

   6. Create responsive and interactive user interfaces using modern frameworks

   7. Integrate third-party services and APIs as required

4. Quality Assurance

   1. Implement comprehensive unit testing for both frontend and backend code

   2. Perform code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members

   3. Identify and fix bugs and performance bottlenecks

   4. Implement integration and end-to-end testing strategies

   5. Conduct security audits and implement security best practices

5. Database & Data Management

   1. Design and implement database schemas and models

   2. Optimize database queries and ensure data integrity

   3. Implement data migration strategies and procedures

   4. Manage database backups and recovery processes

6. DevOps & Deployment

   1. Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment

   2. Configure and manage development, staging, and production environments

   3. Implement monitoring and logging solutions

   4. Perform application deployments across different environments

   5. Troubleshoot and resolve deployment and infrastructure issues

7. Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

   1. Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation

   2. Document APIs, database schemas, and system architecture

   3. Develop user guides and administrative documentation

   4. Create onboarding materials for new team members

   5. Share knowledge through presentations and training sessions

8. Team Collaboration

   1. Mentor junior developers and provide technical guidance

   2. Collaborate effectively within cross-functional development teams

   3. Participate in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives

   4. Contribute to improving development processes and methodologies

   5. Communicate progress, blockers, and solutions to team members

9. Maintenance & Support

   1. Provide production support for existing applications

   2. Implement system upgrades and feature enhancements

   3. Perform refactoring of legacy code to improve maintainability

   4. Monitor system performance and implement optimizations

   5. Respond to and resolve critical production issues

10. Continuous Improvement

    1. Stay updated with emerging technologies and industry trends

    2. Evaluate new tools and frameworks for potential adoption

    3. Suggest and implement process improvements

    4. Participate in professional development activities

    5. Contribute to technical discussions and decision-making

1. Team Development

   1. Assisting the Talent Acquisition department to induct the best talent into your team. Participating in recruitment events for different universities is strongly recommended.
   2. Promoting a culture of continuous learning and growth.
   3. Executing the best team onboarding POA and roadmap for the team members.

Requirements

Necessary Skill Set:

1. Soft Skills and Experience

   1. Strong problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking

   2. Ability to pick up and adapt to new concepts quickly

   3. High level of accuracy and fluency in written and spoken English

   4. Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration

2. Architecture & System Design

   1. Experience architecting full applications from conception to deployment

   2. Creation of technical specifications and system design documentation

   3. Strong knowledge of design patterns and anti-patterns

   4. Solution architecture planning and implementation

   5. Capacity planning and scalability considerations

   6. Performance profiling and bottleneck identification

   7. Authentication and authorization system design (OAuth, JWT, RBAC)

   8. Implementation of caching strategies (Redis, Memcached)

   9. Experience with message queue systems (RabbitMQ, Kafka)

   10. Code refactoring and modernization expertise

   11. Advanced debugging and troubleshooting skills

3. Backend Development

   1. Strong proficiency in NodeJS ecosystem and asynchronous programming

   2. Experience with NestJS framework and TypeScript

   3. Expertise in RESTful API design and implementation

   4. Knowledge of gRPC/tRPC for efficient API communication

   5. GraphQL implementation experience

   6. Object-oriented programming principles in backend development

   7. Experience with Express.js and Fastify frameworks

   8. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) implementation

   9. Microservice and module-based architecture experience

   10. WebSockets for real-time applications

   11. Familiarity with FastAPI for Python-based microservices

   12. knowledge of .NET Core or ASP.NET, Java

4. Frontend Development

   1. Strong TypeScript/JavaScript proficiency

   2. Vue.js and Nuxt.js expertise, including component architecture

   3. Experience with component design (reusable components, slots, composition API)

   4. React.js development skills

   5. Flutter for cross-platform mobile development

   6. State management implementations (Vuex, Redux, Context API)

   7. Modern CSS frameworks (Tailwind, Bootstrap)

   8. Server-side rendering and static site generation

   9. Frontend performance optimization (lazy loading, code splitting)

5. Database Management

   1. PostgreSQL and MySQL design, optimization, and administration

   2. Designing Schemas using Industry Best Practices

   3. MongoDB and NoSQL data modeling

   4. Time-series database experience (InfluxDB, TimescaleDB)

   5. Firebase integration across services

   6. Database migration planning and execution

   7. ORM implementation (Prisma, TypeORM, Sequelize)

   8. Database normalization and optimization techniques

6. DevOps & Infrastructure

   1. Advanced Git workflows and GitOps principles

   2. CI/CD pipeline implementation (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins)

   3. Docker containerization and orchestration

   4. Monitoring and observability setup (logs, metrics, traces)

   5. Environment configuration management

   6. Cloud services implementation (AWS, GCP, or Azure)

   7. Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, Pulumi)

   8. Container orchestration with Docker Swarm or Kubernetes

   9. Backup and disaster recovery planning

   10. Security implementation (OWASP best practices)

7. Testing & Quality Assurance

   1. Comprehensive testing strategy implementation

   2. Expertise in unit, integration, and E2E testing

   3. Experience with test-driven development (TDD)

   4. Test automation frameworks

   5. Manual testing and defect reporting experience

8. Additional Technical Expertise

   1. Performance optimization across the technology stack

   2. Familiarity with edge computing concepts and implementation

   3. AI/ML integration experience

   4. Project initialization and boilerplate setup

   5. Establishing code standards and best practices

General Requirements:

1. Engineering Background is highly preferred, with a strong analytical and logic building sense.

2. High-energy individual with a consistently positive attitude

3. Experience working with international teams

4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

5. Demonstrated ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively

6. Highly motivated, driven, and self-starting individual capable of immediate productivity

7. Thrives in fast-paced environments and comfortable with ambiguity

8. Strong process improvement skills to evolve the role alongside business changes

9. Professional proficiency in English is required; ability to navigate professional conversations in Arabic is a significant advantage for opportunities in Cowlar's GCC Outreach (Cowlar has an office in Doha, Qatar)

10. Adaptability to learn new tools and technologies quickly

11. Intrapreneurship or Entrepreneurship mindset

12. Product driven mindset

13. Knack of taking Initiatives.

14. Leadership mindset and prevention of followership mindset.

Preferred Characteristics

1. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams with clarity, accountability, and strategic vision. Takes full ownership of outcomes, from ideation to execution, ensuring high-quality delivery and stakeholder satisfaction. Drives alignment across product, engineering, and business functions by fostering a culture of responsibility, transparency, and continuous improvement.

2. Brings extensive expertise in end-to-end product development, emphasizing value creation, user-centric design, and market readiness. Goes beyond conventional engineering services by engaging deeply in product strategy, roadmap planning, and customer feedback loops. Skilled at transforming concepts into scalable, impactful solutions that align with long-term business goals.

3. Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, tailored to diverse audiences

4. Strong project management and reporting skills, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration

5. Persistent and action-oriented, with a bias towards rapid execution

6. Adaptable and quick to learn new technologies and methodologies

7. Ability to balance quality work with efficient delivery

8. Organized and detail-oriented, ensuring high-quality output

9. Anticipates potential issues and plans accordingly

10. Embraces the company's culture of rapid growth and innovation

11. Capable of making sound decisions quickly, especially under pressure

12. Shows initiative in identifying and solving problems without constant supervision

13. Solution-oriented approach with strong prioritization skills

14. Excellent problem-solving abilities, including technical debugging when necessary

15. Strong time management skills and ability to meet deadlines

16. Innovative thinker, capable of developing creative solutions

Individual Characteristics

1. Resilient mindset with the stamina to persevere through challenges

2. Leadership mindset, having a will go focus on the team excellence rather than individual excellence only.

3. Self-disciplined with a consistent work ethic and the courage to address issues directly

4. Nimble problem-solver, adept at developing creative solutions in a fast-paced environment

5. Proactive in seeking and providing constructive feedback

6. Committed to continuous learning and self-improvement

7. Team player who values collective success over individual accolades

8. Accountable for own work and responsible in exercising professional freedom

9. Demonstrates integrity and builds trust through consistent, reliable performance

10. Exhibits high energy and maintains a positive attitude in all situations

11. Contributes to a respectful work environment, valuing diversity of thought and background

12. Collaborative mindset with a focus on achieving team goals

13. Highly adaptable and flexible in the face of changing priorities and environments

14. Unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction

15. Self-motivated to complete tasks independently while excelling in team settings

16. Resilient and persistent, with the stamina to overcome challenges

17. Strong ethical foundation with the courage to address issues directly

18. Curiosity-driven, with a passion for continuous learning and self-improvement

19. Strong interpersonal skills, able to build rapport with diverse stakeholders

20. Detail-oriented while maintaining a strategic perspective

Note: We strongly recommend preparing a portfolio to accompany your resume. This portfolio should be a comprehensive showcase of your skills, experiences, and history of execution. Please include:

Remember, both the content and the presentation quality of your portfolio matter. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your attention to detail, creativity, and ability to create impactful materials key skills for this role.

We care less about years of experience and more about your drive, problem-solving skills, initiative, work ethic, personal integrity, and creativity. A primary requirement for this role is an extraordinary knack for clear and concise communication. You can demonstrate that knack by explaining why you think our company is a good match for you