Ontic – Hiring for Associate Software Engineer, Backend @Pune

About Company

Ontic is a high-growth “Connected Intelligence” platform that helps Fortune 500 companies and government agencies protect their most valuable assets: their people and their reputation. In a world where physical and digital threats are increasingly intertwined, Ontic provides a centralized system of record for threat assessment and incident management. Joining Ontic in Pune means working on mission-critical software used to prevent workplace violence, manage executive protection, and conduct deep corporate investigations.

Job Details

Job Description

As an Associate Software Engineer (Backend), you will join the Engineering department to help build the foundational services of the Ontic SaaS platform. This is an “Early Career” role designed for engineers with 0–2 years of experience who are looking to master backend architecture under the guidance of senior mentors. You will move beyond simple coding to understanding how to build scalable, reliable distributed systems that handle sensitive security data in real-time.

Requirements

• Experience: 0–2 years of software engineering experience (internships, academic projects, or professional roles are all valid).
• Core Technical Proficiency:
• Foundational knowledge of Java or similar Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) languages.
• Basic understanding of Data Structures and Algorithms.
• Preferred Tech Stack:
• Familiarity with Spring Boot (Microservices).
• Knowledge of MongoDB (NoSQL) and Elasticsearch (Search/Analytics engine).
• Exposure to REST APIs and web application development.
• Tools: Familiarity with Git (Version Control) and exposure to cloud platforms (AWS/GCP).

Roles and Responsibilities

• Backend Development: Build features and services using Java and Spring Boot.
• Data Management: Work with MongoDB for document storage and Elasticsearch for high-speed threat intelligence querying.
• Code Quality: Write clean, maintainable, and unit-tested code; participate in rigorous code reviews.
• System Awareness: Learn to debug in production environments and develop familiarity with logging and monitoring.
• Collaboration: Communicate progress and blockers clearly within an Agile team environment.

How to Apply?

Role Summary

This position is a “Growth-First” role. Your primary objective is to transition from an entry-level developer to an independent contributor. You will focus on writing clean, high-quality code in Java and Spring Boot, while managing data across MongoDB and Elasticsearch. Your success will be measured by your ability to learn the system fundamentals and apply engineering best practices to real-world production challenges.

Company Culture & Insights

Ontic explicitly mentions a commitment to an inclusive environment, noting that “women and people of color are less likely to apply” unless they meet every requirement.

Workforce Diversity Statistics (Estimated based on 2024-2025 Industry Reports): While Ontic is a private company and does not release all internal metrics, the “Threat Intelligence” and “SaaS” sectors in India currently reflect the following diversity trends which Ontic actively participates in through their “inclusive and authentic workplace” initiative:

Ontic Specifics: The company prioritizes full inclusion, providing specific accommodations for disabilities through their recruitment contact line.

Gender Representation: Approximately 28%–32% female representation in technical roles within the Pune tech hub.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity (U.S. Headquartered SaaS): * White: 45%

Asian/Indian: 40%

Hispanic/Latino: 7%

Black/African American: 5%

Other/Two or more races: 3%

Why We Recommend This Job

• High-Stakes Domain: Working in “Threat Intelligence” means your code has a direct impact on physical safety and security, which is highly rewarding.
• Modern Data Stack: Learning to manage Elasticsearch alongside MongoDB as a junior engineer provides a rare skill set for search-driven SaaS platforms.
• Mentorship Culture: The job description heavily emphasizes “guidance from senior engineers,” which is the most critical factor for career success in the first two years.

Career Growth Potential

• Software Engineer (L2): Becoming an independent contributor who owns entire feature modules.
• Senior Backend Engineer: Designing complex system architectures and mentoring new associates.
• Security Architect: Moving into a specialized track focused on the secure handling of threat intelligence and federal-grade encryption.

Skills You’ll Gain

Salary & Benefits Info

• Estimated Salary: For an Associate Backend Engineer (0-2 years) in Pune, the Total Compensation (TC) typically ranges from ₹8,00,000 to ₹14,00,000 per annum, depending on academic background and internship experience.
• Unique Perks: * Internet Reimbursement and Home Office Stipend (even for on-site roles).
• Continued Education Stipend (to help you learn new frameworks).
• Celebrations: Strong focus on “Festive & Achievement” events.

Frequently Asked Interview Questions

1. OOP: “Can you explain the four pillars of Object-Oriented Programming and how you might apply ‘Inheritance’ in a Spring Boot application?”
2. Spring Boot: “What is Dependency Injection, and why is it beneficial for building scalable backend services?”
3. Databases: “When would you choose MongoDB (a document store) over a traditional Relational Database (like MySQL) for threat data?”
4. Algorithms: “Walk me through how you would optimize a search query in Elasticsearch if the results were returning too slowly.”

Behavioral & Culture Questions

1. Learning Agility: “Tell me about a time you had to learn a new tool or language for a project. What was your process?”
2. Communication: “How do you handle a situation where you realize you won’t be able to meet a deadline for an assigned task?”
3. Ownership: “Describe a bug you found in a personal or academic project. How did you identify it and what was the final resolution?”