Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Trust & Safety)

Affirm, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 173,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage for you and dependents

Stock purchase program

Monthly tech stipend

Job summary

Affirm, Inc. is seeking a Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Trust & Safety) to own and deliver backend initiatives at scale. This remote US role partners with product, design, analytics, and operations to stop fraud while maintaining a smooth user experience.

You will design robust systems, drive architectural decisions, and mentor teammates. A strong track record in Python or Kotlin and AWS/Kubernetes is essential. Remote-first with US-wide delivery capabilities.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin.
• Track record of developing highly available distributed systems using AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes.
• Defined a technical plan for delivering a significant feature with elegant, extensible design.
• Able to make large-scale changes in a big codebase with safe tooling and practices.
• Demonstrates ownership of personal growth, seeks feedback from team and management.
• Strong verbal and written communication to collaborate with a global engineering team.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver quarterly goals for your team, guiding engineers through ambiguity.
• Collaborate with product management, design and analytics in ideation and decision making.
• Identify and lead resolution of project, process, technology or business issues.
• Support operations and availability by monitoring metrics and on-call work.

Skills

Backend design

Distributed systems

Code quality

Ownership mindset

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Python

Kotlin

AWS

MySQL

Kubernetes

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Trust & Safety)

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.

Trust & Safety Engineering protects affirm’s consumers, merchants, and network from fraud and abuse. We build the real‑time systems, risk signals, and tools that stop bad actors without adding friction for the people we serve. Our engineers work with data science, risk, and operations to stay ahead of evolving threats at scale

You will be matched with a role after completing the interview evaluation process. Your recruiter will work closely with you throughout the process to understand your interests and experience to find the strongest role fit.

What you’ll do

• You will be responsible for owning and delivering quarterly goals for your team, leading engineers on your team through ambiguity to solve open-ended problems, and ensuring that everyone is supported throughout delivery.
• You will support your peers and stakeholders in the product development lifecycle by collaborating with product management, design & analytics by participating in ideation, articulating technical constraints, and partnering on decisions that properly consider risks and trade-offs.
• You will proactively identify project, process, technology or business issues, advocate for them, and lead in solving them.
• You will support the operations and availability of your team’s artifacts by creating and monitoring metrics, escalating when needed, and supporting “keep the lights on” & on-call efforts.
• You will foster a culture of quality and ownership on your team by setting or improving code review and design standards for your team, and advocating for them beyond your team through your writing and tech talks.
• You will help develop talent on your team by providing feedback and guidance, and leading by example.

What we look for

• You have 4+ years of experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin.
• You have a track record of developing highly available distributed systems using technologies like AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes.
• You have experience defining a technical plan for the delivery of a significant feature or system component with an elegant, simple and extensible design. You write high quality code that is easily understood and used by others.
• You are proficient at making significant changes in a large code base, and have developed a suite of tools and practices that enable you and your team to do so safely.
• 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 - USA 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 Pacific base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT): $195,000 - $255,000

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

Remote-first with flexibility built inAffirm 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 youOur 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.
• 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.

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

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