Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Backend Engineer

at Fastned

🏢 About Fastned

Fastned is a pioneering EV fast-charging company that operates a network of stations powered by 100% renewable energy, accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility. With a mission to give drivers the freedom to go electric, Fastned combines cutting-edge technology with environmental impact, making it an inspiring place for engineers passionate about climate action.

About This Role

As a Senior Backend Engineer, you will design and build the core software that powers Fastned's charging platform, handling everything from OCPP migration to AI-driven predictive maintenance. Your work directly enables seamless charging experiences for thousands of EV drivers, while leveraging AI tools to boost productivity and innovation.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a stand-up to discuss progress on OCPP migration or Autocharge features, followed by pair programming with an AI assistant to design a new microservice. You might spend the afternoon reviewing a junior's PR, then debugging a production incident related to charging session data, using Kafka logs and Datadog alerts.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Fastned Is Looking For

  • You have 7+ years of backend experience with deep expertise in Kotlin and/or Java, and have built and maintained microservices in production at scale.
  • You are AI-first: you actively use AI coding assistants like Claude Code or GitHub Copilot, and you understand when to rely on them and when to override.
  • You have strong AWS and containerization skills (Docker/Kubernetes), and have worked with event-driven systems (Kafka) and relational databases like Postgres.
  • You are a clear communicator who can mentor junior engineers and collaborate cross-functionally; tech-lead experience is a big plus.

📝 Tips for Applying to Fastned

1

Highlight your experience with OCPP, Autocharge, or Plug & Charge protocols if you have it—this is core to Fastned's roadmap.

2

Showcase specific examples of using AI tools (e.g., Claude Code, Copilot) to accelerate development or solve complex problems.

3

Emphasize any work with real-time charging or energy systems, as domain knowledge is highly valued.

4

In your resume, quantify impact: e.g., 'Reduced API latency by 40%' or 'Designed a Kafka pipeline processing 10k events/sec'.

5

Tailor your cover letter to mention Fastned's mission and how you personally connect to sustainable mobility.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for sustainability and how Fastned's mission aligns with your personal values.", 'Specific experience with Kotlin/Java microservices and event-driven architectures (Kafka) in production.', "How you've integrated AI tools into your workflow to improve efficiency and code quality.", 'Your ability to take ownership from ideation to deployment, including operational responsibility for monitoring and incident response.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Fastned's current charging technology stack and any public talks or blog posts about their platform.
  • → Read about OCPP 2.0.1 and Plug & Charge standards to understand the technical challenges.
  • → Look into Fastned's sustainability reports and how they source 100% renewable energy for their stations.
  • → Check their engineering blog or GitHub to see if they have open-source contributions or tech talks.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Design a scalable system for managing charging sessions with OCPP 2.0.1 migration in mind.
2 How would you implement Autocharge or Plug & Charge securely? Discuss potential challenges.
3 Describe a time you used an AI coding tool to solve a complex bug or design issue. What were the limitations?
4 Explain how you would architect an event-driven pipeline using Kafka for real-time charging data.
5 How do you approach mentoring junior engineers while maintaining your own delivery velocity?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't overlook the AI-first requirement; failing to mention or show experience with AI tools can hurt your application.
  • Avoid generic statements about 'passion for tech' without connecting to sustainability or EV charging specifically.
  • Don't apply if you lack hands-on Kotlin/Java experience—this role requires deep expertise, not just familiarity.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Fastned!

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