What you’d be doing in this role

As Canva scales, change continues to be part of our DNA — and we think that’s all part of the fun. This role will evolve over time, but here’s a flavour of what you’ll be working on when you start.

At the moment, this role is focused on:

• Leading and coaching a team of software engineers building and evolving Canva’s core data and storage platforms.

• Designing, implementing, and continuously improving database and storage infrastructure with scalability, reliability, security, compliance, and cost efficiency in mind.

• Analysing fleet-wide performance and efficiency across Canva’s storage systems, using data-driven insights to uplift reliability and reduce operational overhead.

• Driving the evolution of Canva’s persistent storage towards a storage-as-a-service model, shaping architecture, tooling, and developer experience.

• Partnering closely with product, platform, and infrastructure teams to translate complex needs into robust, sustainable engineering solutions.

• Balancing long-term strategy with pragmatic delivery to ensure high-impact outcomes for Canva at scale.

You’re probably a match if

• You have extensive experience in software engineering within large-scale, production environments.

• You’ve worked deeply with modern data storage and data platform technologies.

• You’re experienced with languages such as Golang, Python, Java, or similar.

• You have hands-on experience with Kubernetes (preferred), cloud platforms such as AWS (preferred), GCP, or Azure, and large-scale build or tooling systems.

• You understand security, privacy, and compliance requirements for data storage systems.

• You’re comfortable operating at the intersection of technical depth and people leadership.

• You enjoy coaching engineers and supporting their growth and career development.

• You collaborate well and communicate clearly with both deeply technical partners and senior non-technical stakeholders.

About the team

Core Data Group
Core Data’s mission is to make persistence easy for all Canvanauts. We enable teams across Canva by owning and evolving the platforms that store and serve data at massive scale. The group supports a wide range of technologies including MySQL, Aurora, DynamoDB, S3, Redis, OpenSearch, and MongoDB — with a strong focus on reliability, performance, and keeping Canva’s customer data safe and secure.

What’s in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard — and we do — but you’ll also experience plenty of moments of connection, growth, and fun along the way. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer:

• Equity packages — we want our success to be yours too.

• Inclusive parental leave that supports all parents and carers.

• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support wellbeing, connection, and your setup.

• Flexible leave options so you can recharge and take time for what matters most.

Other stuff to know

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills, and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, feel free to share your pronouns and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

Even if you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you — we value diverse experiences and unique perspectives.