Senior Backend & Cloud Engineer - CDR / Open Banking - (Unpaid / Equity share)

About the job 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.