Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Partner Merchant Interface)

Affirm; New York (NY); Remote; USD 173,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage for you and dependents

Monthly stipends for tech setup

Flexible time off

Job summary

Affirm is seeking a Senior Software Engineer, Backend for the Partner Merchant Interface. You’ll design, build and scale backend services that power payments over time, collaborating with product, design and security to ship reliable features for merchants and consumers.

You’ll work with Python or Kotlin, AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes, own quality through tests and reviews, and navigate a large code base to deliver robust, observable systems in a remote-first, US-based environment.

Qualifications

• Experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale.
• Proficient in Python or Kotlin.
• Familiar with distributed systems, AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes.
• Ability to turn simple problems into well-tested, extensible solutions.
• Comfortable navigating large codebases and providing code reviews.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with team and stakeholders to contribute to projects and goals.
• Balance speed and quality to meet business goals while protecting systems from downtime.
• Engage with team growth and development activities.
• Proactively communicate risks and trade-offs to stakeholders.

Skills

Backend design

Python or Kotlin

Distributed systems

Code reviews

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

AWS

MySQL

Kubernetes

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Partner Merchant Interface)

Remote US

At affirm, we exist for the moments that matter—giving people a clear, predictable way to pay over time, with no hidden fees, no surprises, and no tradeoffs on what matters most.

What You'll Do

• With the support of your team, you will work on tasks that contribute to the team's projects and goals.
• You will work collaboratively and proactively with your team and stakeholders, bringing them along for your work and helping to create visibility and dialog regarding the risks and trade-offs related to your work.
• You will strike the right balance of speed and quality in your work, ensuring that we hit our business goals while protecting our systems from downtime.
• You will contribute to a sense of community on your team by engaging in growth and development activities.

What We Look For

• You have previous work or internship experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale and are experienced using one of Python or Kotlin.
• You are familiar with the building blocks of distributed systems, and the technologies like AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes.
• You have mastered taking a simple problem or business scenario into a solution that interacts with multiple software components, and executing on it by writing clear, easily understood, well tested and extensible code.
• You are comfortable navigating a large code base, debugging others' code, and providing feedback to other engineers through code reviews.
• Your experience demonstrates that you take ownership of your growth, proactively seeking feedback from your team, your manager, and your stakeholders.
• You have strong verbal and written communication skills that support effective collaboration with our global engineering team.
• This position requires either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Base Pay Grade - N

Equity Grade - 9

Employees new to affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills. Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)

USA base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT) per year: $195,000 - $255,000

USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $173,000 - $233,000

Remote-first with flexibility built in

affirm is proud to be a remote-first company. Most roles can be done from almost anywhere within the country of employment. Some positions may occasionally require in-person work at an affirm office, and a few are office-based due to the nature of the work. All new hires will be invited to attend an in-person onboarding experience.

Benefits designed for you

Our benefits reflect our commitment to care, transparency, and flexibility. Here are a few highlights:

• Health coverage at no cost: We cover 100% of premiums for employees and their dependents.
• Spending stipends: Monthly stipends support your tech setup, and the ability to choose health and wellness options that are right for you.
• Time off to recharge: Flexible time off and generous holiday calendars help you rest when you need to.
• Own a piece of what you build: Our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) lets you buy affirm stock at a discount.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive interview process, including accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you need support, we’re happy to help.

For positions based in San Francisco or Los Angeles: affirm considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, as required by law.

Demographic Survey Statement (US-based roles)

Affirm is dedicated to building an inclusive culture where affirmers belong and have an equal opportunity to thrive.

To help us assess our outreach efforts, we invite candidates to voluntarily share information through a short demographic survey. This information is:

• Completely optional
• Anonymized and stored in aggregate
• Not accessible to recruiters or hiring managers at the individual level
• Never used in any hiring decision

Your decision to provide or withhold this information will not impact your candidacy in any way.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in affirm’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.