Careers at Backstop
Consulting Engineer
Do you enjoy working directly with clients to design and build application extensions but wish you could work in a fun office in Chicago instead of traveling? Are you interested in business questions and tough technical challenges? Do you wish you could use iterative, Agile methods with your clients? Then check out the Consulting Engineer opening at Backstop – use your Java skills, stay technical and be challenged without giving up client interaction.
Backstop is a Chicago based company that makes SaaS applications for hedge funds and the people who invest in them. Over the last few years, we have grown considerably, won several awards and built a lot of great software. Backstoppers take our customers and our service very seriously but pride ourselves on not taking ourselves too seriously in the process.
The Professional Services Group is looking for an energetic, team-oriented individual interested in building application extensions for our clients. This is a highly technical, billable role responsible for ensuring the successful design and development of custom solutions for our clients. Consulting Engineers learn about the alternative investment industry, work directly with our clients, estimate work, develop software and delight their clients. The Consulting Engineer also participates in internal knowledge sharing and projects.
Our technology stacks are heavy on the server side, Java oriented, but that doesn't stop us from using the right language or tool to solve a particular problem. We love using Ruby to drive the browser and API tests of our Java applications, building Fitnesse suites to organize our Scala-based integration tests and scripting data loaders in Python.
Recent projects include:
- Refactoring a portfolio liquidity DSL and its related service calls
- Using feature flips to gradually make our platform support all kinds of alternative investment vehicles
- Increasing JS unit test coverage provided by our Jasmine suite
- Pairing on production code with another Backstopper, whether they be intern or senior developer
- Writing automated RSpec tests to prove that your feature works the way you expected
- Automating report scheduling and delivery
Responsibilities/Experience/Skills/Education
- Build cool software that delights our clients
- Deliver work on time and within the budget outlined in the statement of work or work with the Project Manager to present the client with change orders
- Take part in regular retrospectives, estimating and planning meetings
Requirements
- 3+ years of billable consulting experience working on multiple concurrent projects or 2 or more years of progressive work/consulting experience in the Alternative Investment or Financial Services industry.
- Passion for delighting customers.
- Excellent Java skills are required.
- Previous experience working at a Hedge Fund, FOF, PE, Endowment, Pension or service provider is highly desired.
- Excellent organization, time management and communication skills.
- Ruby/Rails or C# experience is a plus but not required.
- Live (or relocate yourself) in the Chicago area and work in Backstop’s office in the Loop.
- Ability to travel up to 10%. Travel is occasional for client conferences or design workshops.
Benefits
- Comprehensive pay and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life & disability, 401(k), paid time off, and quarterly bonus based on utilization
- Casual work environment, jeans encouraged (when not visiting clients)
- Work with smart, cool and dedicated folks
- The chance to work for a growing service provider in the alternative financial industry
- Game room, team events and quarterly company parties