Senior Software Engineer

Upwork; Lisboa; Presencial; EUR 40 000 - 75 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

Upwork is establishing its first international operational hub in Lisbon, Portugal, and is seeking a skilled engineer for backend architecture and Java-based services. This role involves developing APIs, integrating payment processors, and driving cross-team initiatives.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in compliance-heavy domains. This role offers access to Upwork’s resources and culture while initially employed through a partner.

Once established, the office will provide competitive benefits and direct employment opportunities.

Qualificações

• Deep experience in backend architecture and operating Java-based services in production, including RESTful APIs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-team initiatives and influence technical direction.
• Experience in tax, fintech, payments, or compliance-heavy domains is valuable.
• Fluent use of AI-enabled engineering tools to accelerate development and documentation.

Responsabilidades

• Drive cross-functional alignment on financial and compliance initiatives.
• Design and build distributed services for payments and tax processing.
• Develop robust APIs and integrations for scalability.
• Integrate external payment processors and compliance services.
• Identify systemic risks and drive solutions.

Conhecimentos

Backend architecture support

Java-based services

RESTful APIs

Relational databases

AWS

AI-enabled engineering tools

Cross-team initiative leadership

Fintech or compliance domain knowledge

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Responsibilities

• Drive cross‑functional alignment on complex financial and compliance initiatives, translating ambiguous requirements into clear technical direction, execution plans, and well‑reasoned trade‑offs.
• Design, build, and evolve distributed services for payments and tax processing, improving accuracy, reliability, and maintainability across diverse regulatory and transactional use cases.
• Develop and operate robust APIs and integrations that scale with product growth, emphasizing performance, observability, and operational excellence.
• Integrate and manage external payment processors, tax engines, and compliance services, enhancing system resilience, reducing defects, and accelerating issue detection and resolution.
• Elevate engineering quality through strong testing practices, code reviews, and effective use of automation and AI‑assisted workflows to improve development velocity without compromising rigor.
• Proactively identify systemic risks, ownership gaps, and process inefficiencies, and drive durable solutions that strengthen platform integrity, compliance confidence, and overall business impact.

Qualifications

• Deep experience supporting backend architecture and operating Java‑based services in production, including RESTful APIs, relational databases, AWS, and scalable service design.
• Demonstrated ability to lead ambiguous, cross‑team initiatives and influence technical direction across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience in tax, fintech, payments, or another compliance‑heavy domain is valuable, along with the ability to learn complex business rules quickly.
• Fluent use of AI‑enabled engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar to accelerate development, debugging, and documentation, paired with the judgment to validate outputs and share effective AI practices that improve team execution.

Location & Employment Details

Upwork is establishing its first international operational hub in Lisbon, Portugal. The new office is expected to be fully operational by Q4 2026. This role will require three days in office once the hub has opened. The position will initially be employed through a partner to ensure a seamless hiring process while we establish the hub, with potential transition to direct employment with Upwork once the hub is operational. While employed by the partner, you’ll work as part of Upwork’s team, with access to our resources, culture, and growth opportunities.

Benefits

Our partner will offer competitive benefits. When Upwork’s hub is established, we will be excited to offer employment and benefits directly as business needs require.

EEO Statement

Upwork is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.