Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Backend Engineer - Trade-in (f/m/x) - remote

at refurbed

🏢 About refurbed

Refurbed is a mission-driven marketplace focused on selling high-quality refurbished electronics to reduce e-waste and promote sustainability. Unlike typical tech companies, they combine environmental impact with a profitable business model, offering employees the chance to contribute directly to eco-friendly tech consumption. Working here means joining a team that values both technical excellence and positive environmental change.

About This Role

This Senior Backend Engineer role focuses on building and maintaining the core APIs and backend services for Refurbed's trade-in marketplace, specifically handling integrations with third-party systems and ensuring reliable production operations. You'll directly impact the scalability and reliability of a platform that facilitates eco-friendly tech trade-ins across Europe. This position requires deep ownership of production systems and designing new features that enhance the trade-in user experience.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves collaborating with product and frontend teams to design new trade-in features, writing and reviewing Go code for core APIs, monitoring production systems for performance issues, and integrating third-party services like payment or logistics APIs. You might also troubleshoot database queries, plan scalability improvements, and participate in incident response if needed.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who refurbed Is Looking For

  • Has 7+ years of hands-on experience building scalable backend services in Go, with proven expertise in distributed systems and service-oriented architecture in production environments
  • Demonstrates strong SQL skills and relational database design experience, likely with complex data models supporting marketplace transactions
  • Is based in a European time zone with excellent English communication skills, capable of collaborating remotely on cross-functional teams
  • Shows interest in sustainability or marketplace platforms, with experience integrating third-party APIs and monitoring production systems

📝 Tips for Applying to refurbed

1

Highlight specific Go projects where you designed scalable backend services, especially those involving distributed systems or API integrations

2

Emphasize any experience with marketplace platforms, e-commerce, or trade-in systems, even if indirectly related

3

Mention your location in a European time zone upfront in your application to address their remote work requirement

4

Include metrics or examples of production system monitoring and operations you've owned in previous roles

5

Tailor your resume to show SQL and database design experience relevant to high-transaction marketplace environments

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why Refurbed's mission of reducing e-waste through refurbished tech resonates with you personally or professionally", 'Detail your experience with Go in building scalable backend services, specifically mentioning distributed systems and production monitoring', 'Describe a relevant project where you integrated third-party APIs or designed core marketplace APIs', 'Highlight your ability to work remotely in European time zones and collaborate effectively in English']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Refurbed's marketplace to understand their trade-in flow and user experience for selling/buying refurbished tech
  • → Research their tech stack mentions (likely Go, PostgreSQL, etc.) from engineering blog posts or team interviews
  • → Learn about the refurbished electronics market in Europe and competitors to understand business context
  • → Review their sustainability reports or mission statements to speak knowledgeably about their environmental impact

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Deep dive into your Go experience: concurrency patterns, performance optimization, and error handling in distributed systems
2 Scenario-based questions on designing scalable APIs for a trade-in marketplace with high transaction volumes
3 Discussion of your approach to monitoring and maintaining production systems, including incident response
4 SQL and database design questions focused on relational models for marketplace data (users, products, transactions)
5 Questions about integrating third-party systems and handling API failures or rate limiting
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying without Go-specific experience or confusing it with other languages—this role requires deep Go proficiency
  • Failing to address the European time zone requirement or demonstrating poor English communication skills
  • Focusing only on coding without showcasing experience in production operations, monitoring, or system ownership

📅 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 refurbed!

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