Sr. Software Engineer, Services

Panera Bread•Saint Louis, LA

4d•$127,461 - $152,953•Hybrid

About The Position

Panera Bread is seeking a Sr. Software Engineer to design, develop, and optimize a scalable middleware layer (Backend-for-Frontend – BFF) supporting Web, Mobile, Kiosk, and emerging digital channels. This role focuses on building lightweight, secure, and high-performance APIs using Node.js, TypeScript, and GraphQL, while leveraging AI-enabled Developer Lifecycle Capabilities (DLC) to accelerate software delivery, improve code quality, and enhance customer experience across Panera’s digital platforms.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in software engineering, with strong focus on backend, API, or middleware (BFF) development
Strong understanding of Node.js, asynchronous programming, and TypeScript
Experience with GraphQL (schema design, resolvers, performance tuning, federation concepts preferred)
Experience designing lightweight, high-performance APIs and data aggregation layers
Familiarity with AI-enabled Developer Lifecycle Capabilities (e.g., AI code assistants, automated testing, intelligent code analysis, DevOps automation tools)
Strong understanding of API security best practices including authentication, authorization, encryption, and threat mitigation
Experience with microservices architecture and distributed systems
Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
Experience building CI/CD pipelines with emphasis on automation, speed, and reliability
Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and performance optimization skills
Understanding of observability practices (logging, tracing, metrics)
Strong collaboration and communication skills within cross-functional teams

Nice To Haves

federation concepts preferred

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain lightweight BFF services using Node.js and TypeScript to support Panera’s Web, Mobile, Kiosk, and digital ordering experiences
Build and optimize RESTful, GraphQL APIs (schema design, resolvers, federation) with a focus on performance, scalability, and minimal payload delivery
Leverage AI-powered development tools (code assistants, automated testing, and code quality tools) to accelerate development cycles and improve engineering productivity
Collaborate with frontend, backend, product, and digital teams to define efficient API contracts and data orchestration strategies
Implement secure-by-design APIs using industry best practices (OAuth2, JWT, API gateways, data protection standards)
Optimize middleware performance via caching strategies, batching, and efficient data aggregation patterns
Integrate with microservices, enterprise systems, and third-party platforms ensuring resiliency and fault tolerance
Drive CI/CD automation and DevOps practices, incorporating AI-assisted testing, security scanning, and deployment validation
Monitor system health and performance using observability tools, proactively identifying and resolving production issues
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering excellence, including architecture standards and AI-enabled development practices