Software Engineer I - Backend

Join Booking.com as a Software Engineer I - Backend

Your New Company

At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you make. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the food you sample. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

Role Description

Our mission at Booking.com is to create visionary, innovative, and personalised travel experiences for millions of customers all over the world. Across our offices worldwide, we continue to innovate by solving some of the most complex challenges in travel and technology, and to plan for the exciting developments that lie ahead through strategic long-term investments into what we believe the future of travel can be.

As a Software Engineer working on the backend, you have the opportunity to be responsible for the development, performance, and scaling of many areas - including our public website, as well as internal systems and infrastructure. You will work independently and will also be responsible for making technical decisions within a cross-functional team.

Relocation support cannot be provided for this role and therefore candidates must be currently based in the Netherlands in order to be considered.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Important aspects of the job can include:

• Develop robust and scalable backend services.
• Collaborate with developers to create cohesive and functional code.
• Optimize applications for performance and scalability.
• Manage and maintain code repositories using Git.
• Develop and maintain containerized applications with Kubernetes.
• Write and maintain Perl scripts.
• Work with teams to integrate automated testing and deployment processes.

Role Qualifications & Requirements

We are looking for motivated Software Engineers who enjoy solving problems which could benefit Booking.com’s customers; who initiate solutions and discussions and who believe that any challenge can be scaled with the right mindset and tools.

We have found that people who match the following requirements are the ones who thrive with us:

• 1-3 years of software development experience; using one or more server side programming languages. Preferably Java, Perl, Python, Scala, C++ etc.
• Demonstrable experience with MySQL and PostgreSQL or similar relational databases.
• Bachelor in Mathematics, Software Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Git and branching strategies.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Eagerness to learn new technologies and continuously improve.
• Previous experience with distributed systems is an advantage.
• Experience working on products that impact a large customer base is an advantage.

Additional nice to have skills include:

• Proficiency in Java and frameworks like Spring and Hibernate.
• Experience with Kubernetes for container orchestration.
• Proficiency in Perl scripting is a plus.
• Experience with CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI).

Benefits & Perks: Global Impact, Personal Relevance

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parental (22-weeks paid leave), grandparent, bereavement, and care leave.
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, working from home furniture and ergonomic support, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country).
• A beautiful sustainable HQ Campus in Amsterdam, that offers on-site meals, coffee, and snacks, multi-faith and breastfeeding rooms at the office.
• Commuting allowance and bike reimbursement scheme.
• Discounts & Wallet credits to spend on our products, upgrade to Booking.com Genius Level 3, and friends & family Booking.com discount vouchers.
• Free access to online learning platforms, development and mentorship programs.
• Global Employee Assistance Program, free Headspace membership.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.

“At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.”
Paulo Pisano, Chief People Officer

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.

Key Skills

• Java
• Python
• Perl
• PHP
• Ruby
• C#
• Golang
• Node.js
• Microservices
• mySQL
• Kubernetes

Pre-Employment Screening

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.