Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Robinhood; New York, Menlo Park (NY, CA); Hybrid; USD 196,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

401(k) matching

Equity ownership

Flexible benefits spending account

Job summary

Robinhood is on the lookout for a Senior Software Engineer to develop large-scale distributed systems in either their New York or Menlo Park office. This is a pivotal role focused on enhancing system performance and operational safety while collaborating closely with various teams.

The ideal candidate will possess over 5 years of software development experience and a strong grasp of designing REST APIs. Robinhood offers competitive compensation, equity, and comprehensive health benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• 3+ years of experience building low-latency, large-scale distributed systems in production environments.
• Experience designing and operating highly concurrent systems and well-structured REST APIs.

Responsibilities

• Build and evolve scalable backend systems.
• Design, implement, test, and release product-facing features.
• Lead large, technically complex projects from design through execution.
• Mentor junior engineers through code reviews and design discussions.

Skills

Professional software development

Building low-latency distributed systems

Designing REST APIs

Mentorship

Complex problem-solving

Job description

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.

Robinhood’s engineering organization spans Crypto, Brokerage, and Core Engineering, each responsible for systems that are foundational to how customers invest and manage their money! These teams build and operate platforms for trading, custody, ledgers, reporting, payments, and shared infrastructure, with a strong focus on correctness, reliability, and customer trust. Engineers partner closely with product, design, data, and infrastructure teams to deliver software that performs at scale.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will design and build large‑scale distributed systems that support real‑time trading, balances, and platform capabilities. You will lead technically complex projects, contribute to architectural decisions, and collaborate with frontend and data partners to deliver well‑structured APIs. Your work will directly influence system performance, operational safety, and long‑term maintainability across core Robinhood products.

This role is based in our Menlo Park, CA and New York, NY offices, 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

• Build and evolve scalable backend systems, balancing performance, reliability, and long‑term maintainability.
• Design, implement, test, and release product‑facing features with strict correctness and availability requirements.
• Partner with frontend and data engineers to define and refine REST APIs that serve millions of customers.
• Lead large, technically complex projects from design through execution.
• Mentor junior engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and hands‑on technical guidance.
• Identify opportunities to improve system performance, developer productivity, and operational risk.

What you bring

• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• 3+ years of experience building low‑latency, large‑scale distributed systems in production environments.
• Experience designing and operating highly concurrent systems and well‑structured REST APIs.
• Demonstrated ownership of large projects with sustained impact on a system or team.
• Strong technical judgment and the ability to prioritize work aligned with business and reliability goals.
• Ability to break down complex problems and deliver practical, high‑quality solutions.
• Experience mentoring other engineers and contributing to technical direction on new initiatives.

What we offer

Challenging, high‑impact work to grow your career.

Performance driven compensation with multipliers for outsized impact, bonus programs, equity ownership, and 401(k) matching.

Best in class benefits to fuel your work, including 100% paid health insurance for employees with 90% coverage for dependents.

Lifestyle wallet — a highly flexible benefits spending account for wellness, learning, and more.

Employer‑paid life & disability insurance, fertility benefits, and mental health benefits.

Time off to recharge including company holidays, paid time off, sick time, parental leave, and more.

Exceptional office experience with catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces.

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 and is aligned to one of 3 compensation zones. For other locations not listed, compensation can be discussed with your recruiter during the interview process.

Base Pay Range:

Zone 1 (Menlo Park, CA; New York, NY; Bellevue, WA; Washington, DC)

$196,000 - $230,000 USD

Zone 2 (Denver, CO; Westlake, TX; Chicago, IL)

$172,000 - $202,000 USD

Zone 3 (Lake Mary, FL; Clearwater, FL; Gainesville, FL)

$153,000 - $179,000 USD

We look forward to receiving 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 the Privacy Policy for your country of application.

Equal Employment Opportunity Information

At Robinhood, we care deeply about diverse representation in our workforce as it supports our mission to democratize finance for all. In support of this goal, we encourage applicants to voluntarily identify demographic information. This information helps us to continue building a more inclusive workplace and to ensure effective recruiting programs that are inclusive of individuals across all backgrounds.

Self‑identifying in this section is completely voluntary and if you choose not to provide any information, please select the “I don't wish to answer” option. Whatever your decision, data that you provide will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Individuals seeking employment at Robinhood are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, neurodivergence, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We encourage you to comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity recordkeeping, reporting, and other legal requirements. For more information on EEOC definitions, please reference this document.