Cue Tom Cruise dancing to Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger.

Because of this risk, our clients are always hiring people who know how to engineer ways around it.

This week I spoke with Del about a Risk Software Engineer position with a large fintech client in Japan.

As a refresher, Del (Delano Stark) is a technical recruiter in Tokyo, specializing in the FinTech industry.

This is what he looks like:

Yes, he does have a Game of Thrones tattoo.

Del gave me the details you need to know to land a job as a Risk Software Engineer in Japan.

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started.

What is a Risk Software Engineer?

As a Risk Software Engineer, your job is to create digital safeguards that protect financial services from fraudulent activities and potential risks.

You are a digital architect building detection mechanisms that operate in the background whenever money moves electronically.

Your tools are programming languages like Scala. Your blueprint is the algorithms that help differentiate between legitimate and suspicious activities.

Your work ensures the safety and reliability of financial transactions, which directly impacts the trust that customers place in the platform.

Here are your responsibilities:

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As a Risk Software Engineer, your role is multifaceted, requiring a blend of technical prowess, collaborative energy, and a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving. Here's a breakdown of the key responsibilities you'll shoulder:

Synchronous Microservices Development: You'll develop and optimize synchronous microservices that are essential for underwriting transactions. This involves processing and analyzing large datasets in real-time, utilizing statistical models to make immediate and accurate risk assessments.
Asynchronous Microservices Management: Your job will also include managing asynchronous microservices designed to detect and prevent fraud. You'll work on systems that require the handling of extensive datasets, ensuring high throughput and responsiveness in fraud detection.
Internal Tools Enhancement: Beyond the core microservices, you'll create and improve internal tools that support the operations team. These tools are vital for the smooth running of day-to-day operations and enhance the team's ability to manage workflows effectively.
Cross-functional Teamwork: You'll collaborate closely with teams across various functions, including product owners and data scientists, to co-develop features that bolster the platform's risk management capabilities.
Adherence to Standards: It's your responsibility to regularly evaluate the services to ensure they meet predefined security, maintainability, observability, and reliability standards. You'll address any identified deficiencies, contributing to the system's overall integrity and efficiency.
Performance and Security: You'll engage with stakeholders to ensure that new requirements align with the platform's performance and security standards, maintaining the high-quality standards of the payment ecosystem.
Technical Leadership: As a leader within the team, you'll drive the design and consensus-building around new solution architectures, crafting the technical implementation roadmap and guiding the team in executing it.

Now, let's break down what you will actually be doing:

Risk Software Engineer Day-to-day Tasks

Your daily routine would be a mix of individual contribution and teamwork:

Morning Sync: Kick off with a brief meeting to outline the day's goals and challenges.
Code Review: Engage in peer reviews to ensure high-quality and maintainable code.
Feature Development: Devote time to crafting and enhancing software features, adhering to the planned architecture and performance standards.
Collaborative Projects: Work closely with data scientists and product managers to integrate data models and improve algorithms for fraud detection.
Testing and Deployment: Conduct thorough testing of your code and oversee its deployment, ensuring stability and reliability.
Performance Tuning: Optimize systems for better performance in terms of speed and data handling.
Problem-Solving Sessions: Participate in brainstorming sessions to address and solve technical issues.
Continuous Learning: Keep abreast of the latest industry developments in technology and programming.
End-of-Day Wrap-up: Log your progress, prepare reports, and set the stage for the next day.

What are the requirements to work as a Risk Software Engineer?

Risk Software Engineer Requirements

Technical Expertise: Profound knowledge of Functional Programming principles and a strong command of Scala or similar languages within its ecosystem.
Architecture Acumen: A robust understanding of software architecture, enabling the alignment of service architecture with business needs.
Distributed Systems Proficiency: Demonstrated experience with designing and implementing distributed systems, focusing on scalability and low latency to ensure real-time processing.
Codebase Maintenance: Proven ability to not only develop new features but also to maintain and improve existing codebases to enhance functionality and reliability.
Collaboration and Communication: Aptitude for working with non-technical team members, discussing their requirements, and helping them to formulate their needs effectively.
Technical Translation: Competence in explaining complex technical concepts to non-experts, making the technology accessible and understandable.
Strategic Thinking: Interest in contributing to the engineering strategy, product development, and understanding how it aligns with the broader business goals.
Project Management: Skills to define task outlines and deliverables. Demonstrate a sense of urgency when necessary. Ability to manage some level of ambiguity and exercise sound judgment.

Bonus Points

Experience with database management systems like Cassandra and Elasticsearch.
Familiarity with messaging systems such as Kafka, and relational databases like Postgres.
Knowledge of continuous integration tools like CircleCI, cloud platforms like AWS, container management with Fargate, and infrastructure as code with Terraform.
Proficiency in monitoring and analytics tools such as Datadog.
Understanding of advanced architectural patterns such as Event Sourcing and CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation).

5 Skills That Will Get You Hired

1. Communication and Soft Skills

Your ability to articulate complex technical concepts and trade-offs clearly will be key in collaborative environments.

Why It Matters: Effective communication ensures that technical and non-technical team members alike are on the same page, facilitating better decision-making and project outcomes.

How to Build: Enhance these skills through active listening, practicing clear and concise explanations, and engaging with a variety of audiences.

2. Proficiency in Scala, with Functional Programming Knowledge

Scala's functional programming capabilities are essential for building scalable and efficient systems.

Why It Matters: Scala allows for writing concise, robust, and scalable code, which is crucial in handling the complex processing of financial transactions.

How to Build: Work on Scala projects, contribute to open-source Scala communities, and stay updated with the latest Scala developments.

3. Experience with Other Programming Languages

Familiarity with languages like JavaScript for front-end development will broaden your scope of work and contribution.

Why It Matters: Understanding front-end technologies enables better collaboration with front-end teams and contributes to a more unified and seamless user experience.

How to Build: Engage in projects that require front-end development and stay current with front-end technologies and frameworks.

4. Long-Term Engagement with a Specific Codebase

Showing commitment to evolving with a codebase reflects your ability to understand and adapt to its long-term challenges.

Why It Matters: This dedication indicates your resilience and capacity to optimize and maintain complex systems over time.

How to Build: Stick with long-term projects, focus on understanding the underlying business logic, and practice iterative improvements.

5. Experience with Large Systems

Your history of working on large-scale systems demonstrates your ability to manage and navigate the complexities of extensive codebases and infrastructures.

Why It Matters: Handling large systems requires an understanding of advanced software architecture, performance optimization, and system security.

How to Build: Seek out opportunities to work on enterprise-level projects and learn from the architecture and systems engineering decisions involved.

What is the career path for someone passionate about risk?

Career Progression

If you join this role you will have the potential for rapid advancement.

With your expertise, you're expected to grow into a leadership role, engaging with design architects and stakeholders, potentially within 6 - 12 months.

Ready to apply? Here are the things Del recommends keeping in mind.

Tips for Landing the Job

CV Tips for Risk Software Engineers

Crafting your CV as a Risk Software Engineer should tell a compelling story that mirrors the job you're aiming for.

Here's how to tailor your CV for maximum impact:

Skill Proficiency Scale: Instead of merely listing programming languages and tools like Scala or Python, rank your proficiency on a scale to provide a precise skill level.
Prioritize Relevance: Lead with your experience in system security or risk analysis, especially if you've worked in similar tech environments as the hiring company.
Highlight the Right Tech: Bold technologies and tools you've used that match the employer's stack. This draws the interviewer's eye to your most applicable skills.
Detail Your Experience: Go beyond mentioning software names. Specify versions and your adaptability to updates, showcasing your technical agility.
Professional Summary: Begin your CV with a succinct statement, such as, “Adept at engineering robust risk management systems in high-stakes financial environments.”
Keyword Synchronization: Integrate keywords from the job description into your CV to align it with the role's requirements and to pass through applicant tracking systems effectively.

Interview Tips for Risk Software Engineers

When preparing for interviews, keep these strategies in mind to stand out as a Risk Software Engineer candidate:

Product Familiarity: Engage with the company's services or products to understand its risk management ecosystem. This shows dedication and readiness to contribute.
Constructive Insights: Offer well-thought-out feedback or improvements based on your understanding of their systems, signaling your proactive and analytical mindset.
Scenario Planning: Be ready to discuss your experiences in three contexts:
- Successful Projects: Describe scenarios where your risk management solutions effectively protected systems.
- Challenging Projects: Share experiences where you faced obstacles and outline the strategies you used to overcome them.
- Learning Experiences: Talk about the lessons learned from less successful projects and how they've honed your approach to risk management.
Tech Perspective: Have clear opinions on the technologies you've used, especially regarding their application in risk management, and be prepared to discuss them.
Effective Communication: Approach the interview from the perspective of the interviewer. Convey your thoughts clearly and connect them to the role's requirements.
Positive Attitude: Carry an upbeat energy into the interview. It suggests resilience and a positive work demeanor.
Research and Insight: Research the company and your interviewer. Tailor your discussion points to reflect your knowledge of the company's risk management challenges and opportunities.
Tech Preparedness: Test your video conferencing tools beforehand to avoid technical hiccups, showing your attention to detail and respect for the interviewer's time.
Interview Blueprint: Have a structured outline of topics you want to address, ensuring you cover all critical points without sounding rehearsed.

Typical Interview Process

Initial Interview: Discuss your background, cultural fit, and understanding of the risk domain.
Technical Assessment: Demonstrate your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Managerial Interview: A deeper dive into your technical abilities and how they apply to the role.
HR Review: A final step to confirm details and ensure mutual fit.

Common Reasons for Unsuccessful Applications

Avoid these pitfalls to improve your chances of success:

Lack of Company Knowledge: Not being familiar with the company's risk management processes or products can be a deal-breaker.
Inadequate Preparation: Underestimating the interview's depth or failing to use the company's product to understand its risk challenges reflects poorly on your candidacy.

When job searching, you should know the other titles. I hope it helps.

Alternative Titles

Here are some alternative titles to look for if you want to work in this field:

Fraud Prevention Engineer
Payment Security Developer
Financial Risk Systems Engineer

Now let’s go over some of the questions that Del gets about working as a Risk Software Engineer.

Risk Software Engineer FAQ

Q: Is prior experience in Scala mandatory?

A: While expertise in Scala is preferred, candidates with a strong background in other programming languages who show a willingness to learn are also considered.

Q: Does this role have a clear path for growth?

A: Absolutely, this position is designed for growth, with a clear trajectory toward leadership roles available based on performance and contribution.

Q: How does this role differ from a Data Scientist position?

A: A Risk Software Engineer focuses primarily on developing software to implement risk and fraud models, whereas a Data Scientist typically focuses on creating those models based on statistical analysis and data mining.

Q: What separates a Risk Software Engineer from a typical Software Engineer?

A: Risk Software Engineers specialize in financial risk and fraud prevention, requiring knowledge of specific tools, practices, and the financial services industry, whereas a typical Software Engineer may work on a broader range of applications without specializing in risk assessment.

Q: Is this role similar to that of a Security Engineer?

A: While there is some overlap in ensuring the security of financial transactions, a Security Engineer often deals with a wider array of security issues across an organization's IT infrastructure, not just those related to financial risk and fraud.

Q: Will I need to perform the role of a DevOps Engineer as a Risk Software Engineer?

A: Although you might engage with DevOps practices and tools, especially in a smaller company, the Risk Software Engineer role is more focused on the development side, with a specific emphasis on risk and fraud prevention within financial applications.