Job Description
Pharos is seeking a Sustaining Software Engineer who brings discipline, ownership, and a deep commitment to stability in mission-critical on-premise software systems. This engineer will serve as the technical custodian of Pharos’s core on-premise solution, owning defect investigation, patch development, system documentation, and long-term maintainability.
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Hybrid role requiring regular in-office presence, including an in-person interview. Candidates must have unrestricted work rights in New Zealand. No visa sponsorship provided.
Pay Range: NZD $95,000 – $105,000 per year
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Strong fluency in reading and understanding existing codebases.
- Proficiency in C#, C++, and working SQL knowledge.
- Experience using debuggers, profilers, and log analysis tools in production environments.
- Demonstrated ability to write clear technical documentation.
- Minimum 4+ years experience programming in C# / C++.
What You Will Own:
- Stability and maintainability of the platform, including investigation of production issues, root-cause analysis across application, server, and database layers, and delivery of patches or hotfixes without disrupting customer operations.
- Technical documentation and institutional knowledge, including reverse-engineering legacy behavior and producing clear theory-of-operation, architectural, and deployment documentation that explains both how the system works and why.
- Incremental product improvements and performance tuning that improve usability, reliability, and responsiveness without introducing unnecessary risk.
- Reliable on-premise deployment and upgrade paths across customer-controlled environments, including build engineering for installers, binaries, and multi-server configurations.
What Success Looks Like in This Role:
- Within the first 90 days, the core system architecture, data flows, and key dependencies are clearly documented in a way that is accurate, current, and usable by Engineering, Support, and Product.
- Production issues are investigated methodically, with root causes clearly identified and resolved through safe, well-tested patches or updates that do not disrupt customer environments.
- Legacy system behavior becomes increasingly understandable and predictable over time as undocumented assumptions and edge cases are surfaced and captured.
- Minor product enhancements and performance improvements are delivered steadily without compromising platform stability.
- On-premise deployments and upgrades become more reliable, repeatable, and easier for internal teams to support.
- The system is measurably more stable, better understood, and easier to operate than when the role was assumed.
What You Can Expect from Us:
At Pharos, we care about your growth, well-being, and having a little fun along the way:
- Mentorship & Skills Growth: Work closely with experienced engineers who will support your professional development. We embrace AI and emerging technologies, giving you opportunities to build skills and stay ahead in the evolving tech landscape.
- Hybrid Work Environment: After your introductory period, enjoy flexible hybrid work while staying connected with your team.
- Auckland Office & Location Perks: Our office with free parking is within walking distance of the beautiful Auckland Domain Park and is easily accessible via public transit.
- Office Amenities & Perks: Full self-service espresso bar, fresh fruit, Friday food and beverages, a company store, and regular staff events.
- Health & Wellness: Fully subsidized Southern Cross Health insurance.
- Recognition Programs: Initiatives that celebrate achievements and contributions across the company.
This job description does not form part of a contract of employment although you are required to meet the expectations it sets out. This list of accountabilities, skills and competencies is not exhaustive, and may, from time to time, be amended by the Company in writing or verbally
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Pharos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
