Senior Backend & Cloud Engineer (CDR / Open Banking)
(Unpaid / Equity share)
** This is an unpaid opportunity; the right candidate will be rewarded with a meaningful equity stake in PayBuddy Pty Ltd based on their contributions and successful completion of deliverables.
About PayBuddy
PayBuddy is a consumer mobile app that helps people stay on top of their recurring payments. Our assets include an extensively iterated high-resolution Figma prototype, in-depth market and user research, clear growth and marketing plans, and a $5M+ pre-launch valuation with active capital-raising plans.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Senior Backend & Cloud Engineer to join our engineering team on a part-time basis (approximately 15–20 hours per week), fully remote and Australia-based.
You will own PayBuddy's backend, cloud infrastructure, and — critically — our integration with Australian Open Banking (Consumer Data Right / CDR), the most technically complex part of the build. You will work under the direction of our CTO, alongside our mobile, design, and content teams.
This is a rare opportunity to build the data and services backbone of a validated consumer FinTech product from the ground up.
** This is an unpaid opportunity; however, the right candidate will be rewarded with a meaningful equity stake in PayBuddy based on their contributions and successful completion of deliverables. Specific equity terms will be discussed during the interview process.
Why Join PayBuddy?
- Technical Autonomy & Ownership: You won't just execute; you will define. We have an extensive high-resolution prototype, validated user research, and a clear path to revenue. You own how the backend, cloud, and data integration are engineered from day one.
- Real Product, Not Vaporware: We solve genuine, widely reported consumer financial pain points. You are building a durable, scalable FinTech product that serves real market demand, not riding an AI hype cycle.
- Practical AI Application: We treat AI as an acceleration tool, not a buzzword. You'll have scope to integrate AI where it creates measurable product value, ensuring you grow your skills on a live, high-impact application.
- Collaborative Leadership: Join a multi-disciplinary team with deep experience in FinTech, Banking, Marketing, Design and Product. We value pragmatic, secure, and user-centric development.
- Significant Equity Stake: As a foundational hire, your contribution is rewarded with meaningful equity—not just a seat at the table, but a stake in the company's success.
** This is an unpaid opportunity; the right candidate will be rewarded with a meaningful equity stake in PayBuddy Pty Ltd based on their contributions and successful completion of deliverables.
Role Responsibilities
As our Senior Backend & Cloud Engineer, you will own the services, data, and integrations that power the launch product. To be considered, please review the responsibilities and skills below:
- Design and build PayBuddy's backend APIs and cloud infrastructure
- Build and own our integration with an accredited CDR data recipient (e.g. Basiq, Adatree, or Frollo): the OAuth bank-connection flow, secure retrieval and parsing of financial data
- Build the server-side notification scheduling engine (driving push via APNs / FCM, email, and SMS)
- Design and build the content management system that serves the product's structured, multi-format content at scale
- Own data security, privacy, and compliance with relevant Australian regulations (Privacy Act, CDR rules)
- Set up CI/CD, monitoring, and observability alongside the CTO
- Provide the mobile and full-stack engineers with well-designed, well-documented APIs
Key Skills
- 5+ years' backend engineering experience, with strong experience on a major cloud platform (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
- Proficiency in a modern backend language and framework (e.g. Node.js, Python, Go)
- Direct, hands-on experience with the Australian Consumer Data Right (CDR) / Open Banking ecosystem — integrating accredited data recipients or providers such as Basiq, Adatree, Frollo, or equivalent (required)
- Strong API design skills, including OAuth flows and secure token handling
- Strong working knowledge of FinTech security, data privacy, and Australian compliance requirements
- Experience designing systems that store and serve structured content at scale (a CMS or equivalent)
- Based in Australia and legally entitled to work here
- Comfortable in a lean, pre-launch startup where pragmatism and ownership are essential
Bonus Skills (not mandatory but valued)
- Experience building notification infrastructure (APNs / FCM, SendGrid, Twilio, or similar)
- Experience with payment tracking, recurring payments, or personal finance/budgeting products
- Experience setting up CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and observability from scratch
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools and an interest in how AI can accelerate build velocity
- Familiarity with data pipeline design and near-real-time data sync
Who You Are
- A security-conscious backend engineer who takes data privacy seriously
- Experienced with the Australian Open Banking / CDR ecosystem and its practical constraints
- Pragmatic, outcome-driven, and comfortable owning ambiguity in an early-stage build
- A strong collaborator comfortable working under a CTO within a Founder-led company
Important Note
** This is an unpaid opportunity; however, the right candidate will be rewarded with a meaningful equity stake in PayBuddy based on their substantial contributions and successful completion of deliverables. PayBuddy currently holds a pre-launch valuation of $5 million, and we have active plans to raise capital. Specific equity terms will be confirmed during the interview process.
Apply
Our selection process will be:
- Initial Screen: A 15-minute phone call to discuss your background, our business and suitability for the role.
- Founder Interview: A Zoom meeting to discuss our technical needs and partnership.
- Leadership Deep-Dive: A final Zoom meeting with the leadership team for successful candidates.
To apply, please submit your CV and links to or references for systems you have built.