Software Engineer - SRE at Wise

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Software Engineer - SRE
Company: Wise
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid
Category: DevOps Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-07-18
Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years)

🚀 Role Summary

Wise is seeking a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) to focus on Reliability Excellence, working cross-functionally with all engineering teams to ensure consistent delivery on availability and performance Service Level Objectives (SLOs). This role involves establishing and maintaining SRE best practices, removing blockers, and enabling reliability. The ideal candidate will have a strong collaboration skillset, the ability to jump into projects, and influence how teams approach reliability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a unique blend of software engineering and reliability engineering skills, with a strong focus on collaboration and influencing teams to adopt best practices.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Performance Optimization: Identify opportunities to optimize performance by leveraging Wise's observability stack to find bottlenecks, scaling issues, and inefficiencies.
Incident & Service Reviews: Conduct deep dives with teams on incident and service reviews, suggest best practices, and potential improvements.
Requirements Gathering: Bring back requirements to the wider Platform team on a regular basis to drive continuous improvement.
Collaboration: Work closely with engineering teams to ensure consistent delivery on availability and performance SLOs.
Best Practice Adoption: Establish and maintain SRE best practices, removing blockers to enable the reliability of Wise.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong understanding of Java and relevant application frameworks, as well as hands-on experience with troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: Proven experience as a Java Software Engineer, with a strong understanding of relevant application frameworks (e.g., Spring Boot). Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues is essential.

Required Skills:

Hands-on Java development experience
Strong understanding of Java and relevant application frameworks
Experience with troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues
Strong prioritization skills and effective time management
Proficient in English, both written and verbal

Preferred Skills:

Experience with SRE best practices and tools
Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, or Azure)
Knowledge of infrastructure as code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)
Experience with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack)

📝 Enhancement Note: While not required, experience with SRE best practices, cloud platforms, IaC tools, and monitoring/logging tools would be highly beneficial for this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate your Java development skills with relevant projects showcasing your ability to build, test, and deploy scalable applications.
Highlight your troubleshooting skills by presenting case studies of complex issues you've resolved and the steps you took to identify and fix the problems.
Showcase your understanding of SRE best practices by describing how you've implemented them in previous roles or projects.

Technical Documentation:

Provide code samples and documentation demonstrating your proficiency in Java and relevant application frameworks.
Include any relevant certifications or training in SRE, cloud platforms, or monitoring/logging tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this role focuses on SRE, your portfolio should emphasize your ability to ensure the reliability, availability, and performance of systems, rather than just showcasing your development skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for this role in Tallinn, Estonia is €45,000 - €65,000 per year, based on market research and the required experience level. This range may vary depending on the candidate's skills and experience.

Benefits:

Competitive salary and equity in the company
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
Generous vacation and parental leave policies
Flexible work arrangements and remote work options
A dynamic, international work environment with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard working hours, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EET). Some flexibility is available for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's skills and experience. Benefits may also vary depending on the candidate's location and employment status.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wise is a global technology company focused on building the best way to move and manage the world's money. They operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a strong emphasis on innovation and continuous improvement.

Company Size: Wise has over 6,000 employees worldwide, providing a large, diverse team with ample opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Founded: Wise was founded in 2011, with a mission to make money transfers cheaper, faster, and more transparent.

Team Structure:

The SRE team works closely with all engineering teams within Wise, including product engineers, backend engineers, frontend engineers, and infrastructure engineers.
The SRE team is responsible for effective incident management, capacity management, and availability, ensuring that Wise consistently delivers on its availability and performance SLOs.

Development Methodology:

Wise follows Agile/Scrum methodologies, with a focus on continuous integration, continuous deployment, and automated testing.
The company emphasizes collaboration, code reviews, and regular team syncs to ensure everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.

Company Website: Wise.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's company culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, with a strong focus on ensuring that the company's products and services are reliable, available, and performant.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the mid-level (2-5 years) experience range, focusing on establishing and maintaining SRE best practices, removing blockers, and enabling reliability. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in software engineering and be eager to learn and grow in the SRE domain.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the SRE Manager and works closely with all engineering teams within Wise.

Technical Impact: The SRE Engineer will have a significant impact on the reliability, availability, and performance of Wise's products and services, ensuring that they meet the company's high standards for quality and user experience.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Growth: As an SRE Engineer at Wise, you will have ample opportunities to learn and grow your technical skills, working with cutting-edge technologies and collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the industry.
Leadership Growth: With experience and proven performance, there may be opportunities to take on more significant responsibilities, such as leading projects or mentoring other engineers.
Career Progression: Wise offers clear career progression paths, with opportunities to move into more senior roles, such as Senior SRE Engineer, SRE Manager, or even into technical leadership positions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's focus on continuous learning and growth provides numerous opportunities for SRE Engineers to develop their skills and advance their careers within the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Wise's Tallinn office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and creativity. The office features open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and breakout areas, as well as a fully equipped kitchen and relaxation spaces.

Office Location(s): Wise's Tallinn office is located at Kopli tn 68a, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia.

Workspace Context:

Collaboration: The office layout encourages collaboration and communication, with plenty of spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal discussions.
Workstations: Each workstation is equipped with multiple monitors, ergonomic chairs, and high-speed internet access, ensuring that employees have everything they need to work comfortably and productively.
Amenities: The office provides a range of amenities, including free snacks and drinks, showers, and bicycle storage, to support employees' well-being and work-life balance.

Work Schedule: This role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with employees expected to work on-site two to three days per week and remotely for the remainder of the time. Working hours are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EET), with some flexibility for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's hybrid work arrangement offers employees the best of both worlds, providing the structure and collaboration of an office environment alongside the flexibility and convenience of remote work.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone/Video Screen: A brief conversation to discuss your background, motivation, and cultural fit with Wise.
Technical Deep Dive: A detailed discussion of your technical skills, focusing on your experience with Java, application frameworks, and troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues.
Behavioral & Cultural Fit: An assessment of your problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and alignment with Wise's values and culture.
Final Decision: A decision will be made based on your overall fit for the role and the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your Java development skills and provide code samples demonstrating your proficiency in relevant application frameworks.
Showcase your troubleshooting skills by presenting case studies of complex issues you've resolved and the steps you took to identify and fix the problems.
Emphasize your understanding of SRE best practices and how you've implemented them in previous roles or projects.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your Java and relevant application frameworks, ensuring you're comfortable with the latest versions and best practices.
Familiarize yourself with Wise's tech stack, as outlined in The Wise Tech Stack, 2025 Edition.
Prepare for questions about your experience with troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues, and be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and incident management.

ATS Keywords: Java, Spring Boot, Application Troubleshooting, Database Troubleshooting, Data Troubleshooting, Incident Management, Capacity Management, Availability, Observability, Collaboration, Performance Optimization, Service Reviews, Best Practices, Time Management, Automation, Reusable Design

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's interview process is designed to assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit, ensuring that you're the right candidate for the role and the company.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Programming Languages & Frameworks:

Java: Wise uses Java extensively for its backend services, with a focus on building scalable, high-performing applications.
Spring Boot: Wise leverages Spring Boot for its microservices architecture, enabling rapid development and deployment of applications.

Server & Infrastructure Technologies:

Kubernetes: Wise uses Kubernetes for container orchestration, enabling efficient scaling and management of its applications.
Cloud Platforms: Wise utilizes cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, and Azure for infrastructure as code (IaC) and managed services.
Monitoring & Logging: Wise employs monitoring and logging tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK Stack to ensure the reliability, availability, and performance of its systems.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Git: Wise uses Git for version control, enabling collaborative development and efficient code reviews.
CI/CD Pipelines: Wise employs CI/CD pipelines for automated testing, building, and deployment of its applications.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Wise leverages IaC tools such as Terraform and CloudFormation to manage its infrastructure in a declarative, version-controlled manner.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's technology stack is designed to enable rapid development, deployment, and scaling of its applications, with a strong focus on reliability, availability, and performance.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Reliability: Wise places a strong emphasis on ensuring that its products and services are reliable, available, and performant, with a focus on minimizing downtime and maximizing user experience.
Innovation: Wise encourages its engineers to think creatively and challenge the status quo, always looking for ways to improve its products and services.
Collaboration: Wise values collaboration and teamwork, with a strong emphasis on open communication, knowledge sharing, and collective problem-solving.
Continuous Learning: Wise fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth, with regular training, workshops, and hackathons to help its engineers stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Teams: Wise's teams are organized around specific products or services, with members from various disciplines working together to deliver end-to-end solutions.
Code Reviews: Wise emphasizes code reviews as a critical component of its quality assurance process, ensuring that code is well-documented, tested, and optimized for performance.
Knowledge Sharing: Wise encourages its engineers to share their knowledge and expertise with their colleagues, through mentoring, training, and regular team syncs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's culture is designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, with a strong focus on ensuring that the company's products and services are reliable, available, and performant.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Performance Optimization: Identify and address performance bottlenecks, scaling issues, and inefficiencies in Wise's applications and infrastructure.
Incident Management: Develop and implement effective incident management processes to minimize downtime and ensure quick recovery in the event of an outage.
Capacity Planning: Work with engineering teams to forecast and plan for increased demand, ensuring that Wise's systems can scale to meet the needs of its growing user base.
Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices in SRE, and be prepared to adapt and adopt new tools and processes as needed.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Training: Wise offers regular training and workshops on the latest technologies, tools, and best practices in SRE.
Conferences & Events: Wise encourages its engineers to attend industry conferences and events, providing opportunities to learn from and network with other professionals in the field.
Mentorship: Wise offers mentorship programs to help its engineers develop their skills and advance their careers within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's technical challenges and growth opportunities are designed to push its SRE Engineers to the next level, providing them with the skills and experience they need to drive the company's mission and achieve their career goals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Java & Spring Boot: Be prepared to discuss your experience with Java and Spring Boot, including best practices, performance optimization, and troubleshooting techniques.
Troubleshooting: Expect questions about your experience with troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues, and be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and incident management.
SRE Best Practices: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of SRE best practices and how you've implemented them in previous roles or projects.

Company & Culture Questions:

Wise's Mission: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of Wise's mission and how you align with the company's values and culture.
Agile Methodologies: Expect questions about your experience with Agile methodologies, code reviews, and collaborative development processes.
User Experience: Be ready to discuss your approach to ensuring that Wise's products and services meet the high standards for quality and user experience that the company is known for.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Java Projects: Highlight your Java development skills by presenting projects that demonstrate your ability to build, test, and deploy scalable applications.
Troubleshooting Case Studies: Showcase your troubleshooting skills by presenting case studies of complex issues you've resolved and the steps you took to identify and fix the problems.
SRE Best Practices: Emphasize your understanding of SRE best practices by describing how you've implemented them in previous roles or projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wise's interview process is designed to assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit, ensuring that you're the right candidate for the role and the company.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Software Engineer - SRE position at Wise:

Submit your application: Click the "Apply Now" button on the job listing to submit your application through SmartRecruiters.
Customize your portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your Java development skills, troubleshooting experiences, and SRE best practices, as outlined in the "Portfolio & Project Requirements" section.
Optimize your resume: Ensure your resume is up-to-date and tailored to the role, emphasizing your relevant skills and experiences in Java development, troubleshooting, and SRE.
Prepare for technical interviews: Brush up on your Java and Spring Boot skills, and be ready to discuss your experience with troubleshooting application, database, and data-related issues, as well as your understanding of SRE best practices.
Research Wise: Familiarize yourself with Wise's mission, values, and culture, and be prepared to discuss how you align with the company's goals and objectives.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

Tailor every section specifically to SRE roles, emphasizing reliability, availability, and performance optimization.
Include SRE best practices, incident management, capacity planning, and observability tools and processes.
Address Java development, troubleshooting, and SRE-specific skills and experiences.

Quality Standards:

Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information.
Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about SRE best practices, incident management, or team structure.
Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text.
Strategically distribute SRE-related keywords throughout all sections naturally.
Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and SRE specialization.

Industry Expertise:

Include specific SRE tools, methodologies, and best practices relevant to the role.
Address SRE career progression paths and technical leadership opportunities in SRE teams.
Provide tactical advice for SRE portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies.
Include SRE-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance.
Emphasize performance optimization, incident management, and user experience design principles.

Professional Standards:

Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout.
Use SRE and web development industry terminology appropriately and accurately.
Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to SRE professionals.
Provide actionable insights that give SRE candidates a competitive advantage.
Focus on SRE team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and user impact measurement.

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

Emphasize SRE best practices, incident management, capacity planning, and observability in portfolio requirements.
Address Java development, troubleshooting, and SRE-specific skills and experiences in portfolio guidance.
Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable architecture in SRE-specific interviews.
Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for SRE projects.

Avoid:

Generic business jargon not relevant to SRE roles.
Placeholder text or incomplete sections.
Repetitive content across different sections.
Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific SRE role.
Marketing language unrelated to SRE, web development, or user experience.

By following these content guidelines, you will create a comprehensive, SRE-focused job description that serves as a valuable resource for SRE candidates seeking their next opportunity and preparing for technical interviews in the SRE industry.

Software Engineer - SRE