Software Engineer I - Backend

About Us:

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 encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. 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.

We are hiring for this role across a number of key areas. For more insights about the different business units and the scope of their projects and goals, please visit this page. 

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

Role Description:

As a Software Engineer, you are responsible for the development, performance, and scaling of our services as well as internal systems. You will work independently and will also be responsible for making technical decisions within a team.

Key Job Responsibilities and 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:

Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave

• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country only)

• Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit 

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. 

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “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.” 

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.

Application Process: 

• Let’s go places together: How we Hire

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

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.

Java

Python

Perl

PHP

Ruby

C#

Golang

Node.js

Microservices

mySQL

Kubernetes

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.