Application Guide

How to Apply for Software Engineer Backend & Infra

at FAIRMAT

🏢 About FAIRMAT

FAIRMAT is pioneering carbon fiber recycling with a negative footprint, making it uniquely positioned at the intersection of sustainability and advanced materials technology. Their innovative approach transforms waste into high-performance materials for diverse industries, offering engineers the chance to work on meaningful environmental solutions. The Paris-based team combines cutting-edge technology with a mission-driven culture focused on tangible climate impact.

About This Role

This Software Engineer Backend & Infra role involves designing and developing internal applications (1-2 major projects per quarter) while maintaining operational infrastructure with 99% availability during production hours. You'll split time between backend development (Go/Postgres, VueJS) and infrastructure management (AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform), directly supporting FAIRMAT's carbon fiber recycling operations. The role is impactful because your systems will enable the company's core recycling processes and data management.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with checking system monitoring dashboards (Grafana/Prometheus) to ensure 99% availability, then working on backend feature development for internal applications using Go and Postgres. You'd likely spend part of the day on infrastructure tasks like Terraform updates or Kubernetes configuration, while also supporting users and fixing bugs as they arise. The role balances focused project work with responsive operational maintenance.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who FAIRMAT Is Looking For

  • Has hands-on experience with Go and Postgres for backend development, plus AWS, Kubernetes, and Terraform for infrastructure (even if not expert level)
  • Demonstrates practical knowledge of monitoring tools (Grafana/Prometheus) and CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions) in production environments
  • Shows genuine interest in sustainability/clean tech and willingness to learn VueJS and Ansible as needed
  • Can balance project delivery (1-2 major projects quarterly) with operational maintenance and user support

📝 Tips for Applying to FAIRMAT

1

Highlight specific examples where you've maintained 99%+ availability in production systems, especially with AWS infrastructure

2

Demonstrate your experience with the full project lifecycle mentioned in responsibilities: requirement definition, technical specification, implementation, testing, and user demonstrations

3

Show how you've balanced backend development (80% of role) with infrastructure maintenance (20% of role) in previous positions

4

Mention any experience with materials science, recycling, or sustainability projects to show alignment with FAIRMAT's mission

5

Include metrics about your previous projects' impact (e.g., 'reduced system downtime by X%' or 'delivered Y major projects per quarter')

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with both backend development (Go/Postgres) AND infrastructure (AWS/Kubernetes/Terraform) - emphasize the dual nature of this role', 'Specific examples of maintaining high availability systems (99% target) and handling software updates/bug fixes in production', "Why you're drawn to FAIRMAT's carbon fiber recycling mission and how your skills support sustainable technology", 'Your approach to learning new technologies like VueJS and Ansible as mentioned in requirements']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → FAIRMAT's specific carbon fiber recycling technology and their 'negative footprint' claim - understand their unique value proposition
  • → The industries they serve (automotive, aerospace, sports equipment) and how software might support different customer needs
  • → Their AWS infrastructure stack and any technical blog posts or case studies they've published
  • → Recent news about carbon fiber recycling regulations in the EU/Paris region that might impact their business

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk through your experience with the full project lifecycle: from requirement definition to user demonstrations for a major backend project
2 How you've maintained 99% availability in AWS production environments and handled infrastructure updates without downtime
3 Your experience with monitoring production systems using Grafana/Prometheus and implementing CI/CD with GitHub Actions
4 Scenario questions about balancing backend development projects with infrastructure maintenance (the 80/20 split mentioned)
5 Your understanding of FAIRMAT's carbon fiber recycling process and how software supports their operations
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on backend development without showing infrastructure experience (it's a dual role)
  • Not demonstrating experience with production system maintenance and high availability requirements
  • Generic sustainability interest without connecting it to how your technical skills support FAIRMAT's specific mission

📅 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 FAIRMAT!

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