Job Purpose
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.
Location: St. Louis, MO or Boston, MA (hybrid)
Duties & Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:
- 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
Qualifications (Education & Experience)
- 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
Working Conditions
- Primary locations: Boston, MA or St. Louis, MO
- Hybrid work model: 4 days in office and 1 day remote per week
Physical Requirements
- While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk hear & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards
Direct Reports
- N/A
Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans
Competitive Pay $127,461 - $163,660 annually
The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
Saint Louis Support CenterSkills Required
- 5+ years of software engineering experience focused on backend, API, or middleware development
- Strong understanding of Node.js, asynchronous programming, and TypeScript
- Experience with GraphQL, including schema design, resolvers, and performance tuning
- Experience designing lightweight, high-performance APIs and data aggregation layers
- Familiarity with AI-enabled Developer Lifecycle Capabilities, including AI code assistants, automated testing, intelligent code analysis, or DevOps automation tools
- Strong understanding of API security, authentication, authorization, encryption, and threat mitigation
- Experience with microservices architecture and distributed systems
- Experience with a cloud platform such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Experience with Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience building automated CI/CD pipelines
- Problem-solving, debugging, and performance optimization skills
- Understanding of observability practices including logging, tracing, and metrics
- Strong collaboration and communication skills within cross-functional teams
- Experience with GraphQL federation concepts
What We Do
Panera began in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, a humble community bakery founded with a sourdough starter from San Francisco and a dream of putting a loaf of bread in every arm. While our business has expanded well beyond St. Louis since then, that same sourdough starter is still used in our iconic sourdough bread and the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread. Each day, our trained bakers fill our bakery shelves with delicious freshly baked cookies, pastries, bagels, and a range of breads from focaccia to classic baguettes. We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared, clean food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist. We respect our planet and take measures to lessen our impacts. We believe in treating people with warmth, kindness, and respect, whether it’s a guest in our cafe or one of our associates. And we believe in helping our local communities, especially in times of need. We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests. Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.
