Senior Backend Engineer (.NET) (f/m/d)

Company: Apaleo
Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Join Apaleo and Shape the Future of Hospitality Tech!
<p>Apaleo is the world's most open, API-first property management platform powering the next generation of hospitality operations. Its modular, AI-powered infrastructure enables hoteliers to customise their tech stack, automate routine work, and deliver seamless, personalised guest experiences, powered by best-in-class apps and autonomous AI agents that adapt to every stay.</p>
<p>We are looking for a <strong>Senior Backend Engineer (f/m/d)</strong> to build the foundation of Apaleo's market-facing API layer, bringing agentic booking into hospitality and enabling the next generation of guest-facing AI experiences.</p>
<p>This is a highly autonomous role where you will design and ship the <strong>Storefront API,</strong> a production-grade, scalable interface that allows external systems (like ChatGPT and booking platforms) to interact directly with Apaleo.</p>
<p>You'll operate at the intersection of <strong>backend engineering and AI</strong>, starting with clean API architecture and evolving into systems that power intelligent, agent-driven interactions.</p>
What You'll Be Up To
<strong>Build the Storefront API from Scratch</strong>
<ul>
<li>Design and implement a <strong>production-grade, multi-tenant API / MCP</strong></li>
<li>Enable seamless integration with external platforms and AI agents</li>
<li>Ensure scalability, reliability, and high performance from day one</li>
</ul>
<strong>Own the Full API Lifecycle</strong>
<ul>
<li>Define <strong>API schemas and contracts (OpenAPI)</strong></li>
<li>Implement <strong>versioning strategies and backward compatibility</strong></li>
<li>Design <strong>authentication, authorization, and security patterns</strong></li>
<li>Build <strong>rate limiting and usage controls</strong></li>
<li>Ensure strong <strong>documentation and developer experience</strong></li>
<li>Set up <strong>monitoring and observability</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>Work Across Distributed Systems</strong>
<ul>
<li>Integrate with existing <strong>.NET microservices</strong></li>
<li>Connect to <strong>event-driven systems (Kafka or similar)</strong></li>
<li>Navigate and improve a <strong>complex distributed architecture</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>Operate in the Cloud</strong>
<ul>
<li>Deploy and manage services in <strong>AWS</strong></li>
<li>Work with <strong>Docker and containerized environments</strong></li>
<li>Contribute to <strong>infrastructure as code practices</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>Collaborate on AI-Driven Use Cases</strong>
<ul>
<li>Partner with AI engineers to enable <strong>agent-based workflows</strong></li>
<li>Build APIs that integrate with <strong>LLM-powered systems</strong></li>
<li>Help evolve the platform toward <strong>AI-native product capabilities</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>Shape Engineering Standards</strong>
<ul>
<li>Define best practices for:
<ul>
<li>API design</li>
<li>System architecture</li>
<li>Code quality and maintainability</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Contribute to how the <strong>ecosystem team scales and operates</strong></li>
</ul>
What You'll Bring to the Team
<strong>Core Requirements</strong>
<ul>
<li>Proven experience building and operating <strong>production-grade APIs at scale</strong></li>
<li>Strong expertise in <strong>REST API design and architecture</strong></li>
<li>Solid experience with <strong>C# / .NET</strong> <strong>8+</strong></li>
<li>Hands-on experience with <strong>AWS, Docker, and infrastructure as code</strong></li>
<li>Strong understanding of <strong>microservices and distributed systems</strong></li>
<li>Ability to <strong>work independently and make architectural decisions</strong></li>
<li>Interest in <strong>AI systems and integrations</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>Mindset & Traits</strong>
<ul>
<li><strong>Self-starter</strong> — you take ownership and drive work without waiting for direction</li>
<li><strong>Comfortable with ambiguity</strong> — you can build in evolving, low-structure environments</li>
<li><strong>Pragmatic decision-maker</strong> — you balance speed with long-term scalability</li>
<li><strong>Builder mindset</strong> — you enjoy creating systems from scratch</li>
<li><strong>Curious about AI</strong> — you're motivated by where backend systems meet intelligent agents</li>
</ul>
<strong>Nice to Have</strong>
<ul>
<li>Experience with:
<ul>
<li>Event-driven systems (Kafka or similar)</li>
<li>Multi-tenant SaaS architectures</li>
<li>Developer-facing or public APIs</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Exposure to:
<ul>
<li>LLM integrations or agent-based systems</li>
<li>Python</li>
<li>Any major frontend framework</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Background in hospitality tech (not required)</li>
</ul>
Why This Role Matters
<p>This role is about more than building APIs, it's about <strong>defining how external systems interact with Apaleo in an AI-first world</strong>.</p>
<p>You'll:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lay the foundation for <strong>marke…