Intermediate/Senior Backend Engineer (.NET)

Build and own the backend services behind Kernel's investment platform, where getting it right helps tens of thousands of Kiwis grow their wealth.

About The Role

Behind every Kernel account is a Kiwi working towards something: a first home, a comfortable retirement, or just a bit more freedom. They trust us with their savings, and the systems you build are how we keep that trust. That's why we care so much about getting things right, and why we're looking for a .NET engineer who loves solving hard problems properly, not just quickly.

You'll design, build and run backend services in C# and .NET on AWS, owning your work from first sketch to production. You'll join a small, stream-aligned team of 3–5 engineers, work closely with Product and Design, and report to your Engineering Manager.

We're a growing engineering team that works closely and collaboratively, and there's plenty on. We're looking for people who enjoy spotting a problem and fixing it, without waiting to be asked.

About Kernel

We're a 100% Kiwi owned and operated fintech on a mission to make wealth accessible for every Kiwi. Our investment platform brings together KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, US shares and ETFs, and Smart Saver accounts, all in one place, and is trusted by 80,000+ investors.

We're at an exciting stage: scaling fast, expanding our team and building the foundations for what's next. Our culture is collaborative, hands-on and ambitious, built on trust, innovation and saying it like it is. Things move quickly here, and every person plays a key role in shaping our future.

What You'll Do

• Design, build and operate the backend services, APIs and integrations behind KiwiSaver, investing and savings at Kernel
• Own your work end to end, from planning and design through to running it reliably in production
• Write clean, functional-style C# that favours correctness, clarity and testability over clever shortcuts
• Build on our AWS serverless architecture, including Lambda and DynamoDB
• Work across both monolithic and microservice architectures, and help shape how our systems evolve as we grow
• Own quality, building in testing and observability from day one, with QAs who coach rather than test for you
• Plan thoroughly with your team, then ship often in small, valuable milestones, using feature flags where needed
• Share what you know through code reviews and pairing, and help the engineers around you grow
• Partner with Product and Design to turn customer problems into reliable, well-built features

Bonus things you could bring

• Hands-on experience with functional programming, in C# or another language
• An understanding of infrastructure as code
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, such as GitHub Actions
• Some experience with TypeScript or React (useful, but not key for this role)

You'll be great if you bring

• Commercial experience building and running backend systems in production
• Strong C# and .NET skills, and a keen interest in functional programming concepts
• Cloud-native experience, ideally in AWS (strong Azure experience counts too)
• Experience with NoSQL databases such as DynamoDB, not just relational SQL
• A solid understanding of API design, distributed systems and building for scale
• Experience owning systems in production: deploying, monitoring, fixing and improving them
• Good habits around code review, testing and managing technical debt
• A considered approach to using AI tools in your workflow, and the judgement to stand behind every line you ship
• Clear communication, whether you're talking through a design at the whiteboard or giving feedback on a pull request
• Curiosity, and comfort working through ambiguity and shifting priorities

Why you'll love it at Kernel

• Build systems that matter to 80,000+ Kiwi investors and their financial futures
• Have a real say in how we build, with your ideas and decisions shaping the platform from day one
• Work with engineers who plan properly, ship often, pair regularly and are curious about how AI is changing the way we build
• Join a team built on trust, collaboration and flexibility, where feedback is constructive and everyone has a voice
• Competitive pay, reviewed annually, plus an annual performance bonus
• Enjoy the best of both worlds with a flexible hybrid setup: connect in person while keeping the freedom to work from home up to a couple of days each week (minimum 3 days a week in the office)
• Southern Cross health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, with discounted cover for your family
• A 13-week parental leave top-up to full pay, and free, confidential wellbeing support through our EAP
• Professional development support and a learning budget
• Extra Kernel holidays, office snacks, coffee and a dog-friendly office

Join our team

Not sure you meet every requirement? We encourage you to apply. We value growth, impact, and mindset just as much as specific experience. If this opportunity sounds like you, send us your cover letter explaining why you’re excited about the role and working at Kernel, along with your CV.

Visit our careers page for more on working at Kernel and follow us on LinkedIn & Instagram. to stay connected.