Lead Software Engineer

Mastercard; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 161,000 - 266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Mastercard is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to build backend and full-stack capabilities for our Decision Management Platform. This hands-on role involves owning technical areas end to end, writing code, shaping architecture, mentoring engineers, and turning ambiguous goals into reliable services and APIs.

You will design scalable services, APIs, workflows, and frontend experiences, set technical direction, and collaborate with product teams to deliver measurable outcomes in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on software engineering experience in backend services, APIs, or full-stack systems.
• Experience owning technical areas end to end, from design to production support.
• Solid fundamentals in software design, architecture, API design, data modeling, and testing.
• Experience mentoring engineers and guiding technical direction through reviews.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Own meaningful backend and full-stack capabilities from problem definition through design, implementation, testing and production support.
• Design and build scalable services, APIs, workflow tooling, frontend experiences, and integrations.
• Set technical direction and align engineers around maintainable solutions.
• Conduct design and code reviews; raise quality and reduce complexity.
• Write code, build prototypes, and use AI coding tools to improve speed and quality.
• Collaborate with product and stakeholders to turn goals into working software and measurable outcomes.

Skills

Backend services

APIs design

Full-stack development

Mentoring

Security fundamentals

Education

BS in CS

Job description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title And Summary

Lead Software Engineer

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible.

Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Role Overview

This is a hands-on Lead Engineer role focused on building backend and full-stack capabilities for Mastercard's next-generation Decision Management Platform, the real-time system that helps score and approve billions of payment transactions.

You will own technical areas end to end, write code, shape architecture, mentor engineers, and turn ambiguous goals into reliable services, APIs, workflow tools, and user-facing experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Own meaningful backend and full-stack capabilities from problem definition through design, implementation, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Design and build scalable services, APIs, workflow tooling, frontend experiences, and integrations.
• Set technical direction, make pragmatic architecture decisions, and align engineers around maintainable solutions.
• Use design reviews, code reviews, and hands‑on coaching to raise engineering quality and reduce complexity.
• Write code, build prototypes, and use AI coding tools to improve speed, quality, and team effectiveness.
• Work closely with product, engineering, and senior stakeholders to turn ambiguous goals into working software and measurable outcomes.

What We're Looking For

• You lead through delivery. You have shipped meaningful backend, full-stack, or product-facing capabilities in complex production systems.
• You think end to end. You connect user experience, APIs, backend design, data flows, operations, and business outcomes.
• You influence by doing the work. You guide technical direction through judgment, clear communication, and hands‑on credibility.
• You care about quality. Testing, observability, security, clean interfaces, and maintainability are part of how you build.
• You are adaptable. You are comfortable with ambiguity, changing priorities, and small, fast‑moving teams.

Relevant Experience

• You do not need experience in every area, but should bring strong hands‑on depth in several of the following:
• Backend services, API design, service integration, and domain modeling.
• Full‑stack applications, workflow tooling, dashboards, authoring tools, or operational interfaces.
• High‑throughput, low‑latency, event‑driven, or distributed systems.
• Decisioning, rules, data, feature platforms, or real‑time transaction processing.
• AI/ML systems, low‑latency inference, or LLM‑enabled product experiences.
• AI‑assisted development and agentic harnesses

Requirements

• Strong hands‑on software engineering experience building backend services, APIs, full‑stack applications, or complex production systems.
• Experience owning technical areas end to end, including design, implementation, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Strong fundamentals in software design, architecture, API design, data modeling, testing, code review, secure coding, performance, and troubleshooting.
• Experience mentoring engineers and influencing technical direction through design reviews, code reviews, and clear communication.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Salary Ranges

• Arlington: 161,000 - 266,000 USD
• Atlanta: 140,00 - 231,00 USD

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role.

In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro‑rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best‑in‑class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on‑site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on‑site fitness facilities in some locations.