Senior Staff Software Developer, Core Infrastructure

Robinhood; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 234,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus programs

Equity ownership

Health insurance

Mental health support

AI tools

Benefits spending account

Paid time off

Sick time

Parental leave

Volunteer time off

Catered meals

Events

Office comforts

Commuter stipend

Job summary

Robinhood is seeking a Senior Staff Software Developer for Core Infrastructure in Toronto, ON. The role focuses on owning the architectural evolution of service mesh, compute platform, and provisioning to support 24/7 trading across regions.

You will drive cross-functional architectural changes, work with Kubernetes internals, Istio/Envoy, and Terraform, and contribute to platform reliability and velocity. Hybrid in-office role with strong emphasis on collaboration.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of Kubernetes internals (API server, scheduler, etcd)
• Proficiency with Istio and/or Envoy at code level and xDS protocol
• Experience with HTTP/2 and gRPC, observability
• Terraform at architectural scale and multi-region provisioning
• Production Go or Python for infra tooling
• Proven ability to drive cross-functional architectural change across large teams

Responsibilities

• Own service mesh architecture end-to-end and standardize Istio/Envoy deployment
• Drive Kubernetes compute platform evolution across cluster lifecycle and multi-region resiliency
• Redesign infrastructure provisioning by making Terraform a scalable, self-service platform
• Diagnose issues at Kubernetes API machinery, etcd, Envoy xDS, and Terraform provider layer
• Define technical direction across teams and lead architecture reviews

Skills

Kubernetes internals

Istio/Envoy source

HTTP/2 & gRPC

Terraform at scale

Go or Python for infra tooling

Cross-functional influence

Tools

Terraform tooling

Job description

Senior Staff Software Developer, Core Infrastructure

Toronto, Canada

Join us in building the future of finance.

Our mission is to democratize finance for all. An estimated $124 trillion of assets will be inherited by younger generations in the next two decades. The largest transfer of wealth in human history. If you’re ready to be at the epicenter of this historic cultural and financial shift, keep reading.

About the team + role

We are building an elite team, applying frontier technologies to the world's biggest financial problems. We're looking for bold thinkers. Sharp problem-solvers. Builders who are wired to make an impact. Robinhood isn't a place for complacency, it's where ambitious people do the best work of their careers. We're a high-performing, fast-moving team with ethics at the center of everything we do. Expectations are high, and so are the rewards.

The Core Infrastructure team's mission is to build and evolve the foundational platform that every Robinhood engineering team builds on — owning the systems, primitives, and developer-facing abstractions that power 24/7 trading, crypto, and global expansion. We treat infrastructure as a product: reliable, fast to provision, and invisible to the teams above it.

As a Senior Staff Software Developer on Core Infrastructure, you will own the architectural evolution of three deeply interconnected domains: service mesh and connectivity, compute platform, and infrastructure provisioning. Your decisions will directly shape engineering velocity, operational reliability, and Robinhood's ability to expand to new regions and markets. This is not an operations role — it's a once-in-a-platform-lifecycle opportunity to redesign the foundation before complexity becomes permanent!

This role is based in our Toronto, ON office, with in-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week.

At Robinhood, we believe in the power of in-person work to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and strengthen community. Our office experience is intentional, energizing, and designed to fully support high-performing teams.

What you'll do

• Own service mesh architecture end-to-end — standardize and evolve Robinhood's Istio and Envoy deployment, eliminate deprecated communication patterns, and build the networking foundation for multi-region operation
• Drive Kubernetes compute platform evolution — define the long-term direction for cluster lifecycle, scheduling strategy, control plane architecture, and multi-region resiliency across Robinhood's entire compute fleet
• Redesign infrastructure provisioning — transform Terraform from a collection of ad-hoc configurations into a scalable, self-service platform capability that enables rapid region provisioning and developer autonomy
• Operate with source-level depth — diagnose and resolve issues at the Kubernetes API machinery, etcd, Envoy xDS, and Terraform provider layer, and contribute upstream where it serves the platform
• Define technical direction across teams — produce architecture proposals, lead design reviews, and drive cross-functional alignment on infrastructure decisions that affect every engineering organization at Robinhood

What you bring

• Deep, hands-on expertise with Kubernetes internals — API server, controller reconciliation, etcd watch propagation, scheduler mechanics, and admission control
• Deep working knowledge of Istio and/or Envoy at the source code level — including the xDS API as a protocol; experience debugging at the control-plane/data-plane boundary
• HTTP/2 and gRPC wire-level knowledge — connection management, flow control, stream multiplexing, and observability
• Terraform at architectural scale — module design patterns, provider internals, remote state management, and multi-region provisioning
• Production Go or Python for infrastructure tooling; strong fundamentals in writing well-structured, tested, operationally sound code
• Proven ability to drive cross-functional architectural change across large or complex engineering organizations — influencing without authority and shipping durable decisions

What we offer

• Challenging, high-impact work to grow your career
• Performance driven compensation with multipliers for outsized impact, bonus programs, and equity ownership
• Top tier benefits to fuel your work, including supplemental health insurance, ancillary insurance, and mental health support programs
• Access to the best AI tools on the market and continuous AI skill-building for every employee, technical or not
• Lifestyle wallet — a highly flexible employer-paid benefits spending account for expenses beyond traditional benefits such as wellness, childcare, learning, and more
• Time off to recharge including company holidays, paid time off, sick time, paid volunteer time off, parental leave, and more!
• Exceptional office experience with catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces
• Monthly commuter stipend to help offset in-office commuting costs

Our team is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming interview experience for all candidates. If you require a specific accommodation during the application or interview process due to a physical or mental condition, please complete this Applicant Accommodation Form to notify our team. The form should only be completed if you need a specific accommodation.

AI Usage Disclosure: Robinhood uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our recruiting process. These tools enhance the efficiency and consistency of our hiring process; however, all hiring decisions are made by our hiring teams.

Vacancy Notice: This job posting represents an existing vacancy that we are actively seeking to fill.

In addition to the base pay range listed below, this role is also eligible for bonus opportunities + equity + benefits.

Base pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. The expected base pay range for this role is based on the location where the work will be performed.

Base Pay Range:

Toronto, ON

$234,000 - $275,000 CAD

If our mission energizes you and you’re ready to build the future of finance, we look forward to seeing your application.

Robinhood provides equal opportunity for all applicants, offers reasonable accommodations upon request, and complies with applicable equal employment and privacy laws. Inclusion is built into how we hire and work—welcoming different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences so everyone can do their best. Please review thePrivacy Policy for your country of application.