Senior Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Cards)

Candidate; San Francisco, Los Angeles (CA, CA); Hybrid; USD 236,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage at no cost

Monthly tech stipends

Flexible time off

Job summary

Affirm is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to define and lead technical excellence within the Cards group. You will shape architecture, drive scalable, high-performing solutions, and set a clear technical direction.

You’ll mentor engineers, champion AI initiatives, collaborate with stakeholders across teams, and promote an ownership culture in a remote-first environment with flexible in-person onboarding.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience driving backend architecture and cross-functional delivery.
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders.
• Experience leading large engineering initiatives across teams.

Responsibilities

• Define the technical direction and long-term roadmap for Cards.
• Lead from the front in applying AI to deliver fast, reliable solutions.
• Mentor engineers and foster an ownership culture across teams.

Skills

Architectural leadership

Cross-team collaboration

Mentoring engineers

AI initiatives

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

React Native

JavaScript

Kotlin

Job description

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.

We are reinventing credit cards entirely. We are working directly with card issuers to change how credit is used throughout the world, creating new types of cards that work for both their everyday lives and large purchases with extremely straightforward, flexible terms. We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer to take on a critical role in defining and leading technical excellence. You’ll partner with other engineering leaders in revolutionizing the way the team works, shaping the culture of engineering across Cards.

You will lead from the front on AI while holding the bar high on quality. You’ll collaborate with engineering leaders, create and implement technical strategy across full-stack teams, and coordinate closely with stakeholders to build scalable, reliable, and high-performing solutions. You'll help shape best practices, guide architectural choices, and drive the successful delivery of critical initiatives.

This role requires a high level of technical ability, leadership and project management skills, strong cross-functional communication, and a customer-first mindset.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the vision – Define the technical direction, long-term technical roadmap, and strategic initiatives in Cards.
• Be a role model - Lead from the front as an example in using AI to build fast, take initiative, and revolutionize how we work.
• Stay close to industry leaders in FinTech, learning from what is happening in the market to build our team.
• Work closely with stakeholders across all teams at affirm to champion and implement technical excellence in conjunction with business results
• Create and influence a strong ownership culture across teams, with high accountability and investment for building for scale and efficiency
• Architect and contribute to decisions on the right platform, tools, and technologies to support consistency and reliability
• Mentor and lead – Guide a strong group of engineers by championing best practices, and helping them grow

What We Look For

• 10+ years of experience working across the stack, driving architectural improvements in the backend. Bonus points using languages like React Native, Javascript, or Kotlin.
• Experience driving change across large engineering organizations
• Track record of successfully leading critical projects and leveraging multiple engineering teams across organizational boundaries for company-wide results
• Extensive experience developing and implementing technical strategy that drove prominent change in reliability and responsiveness
• You embody an ownership mindset and help influence a similar culture to those around you
• Collaborative partnership across engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience mentoring and growing engineers up to Staff level
• You have strong verbal and written communication skills that can help influence and share critical decisions with stakeholders
• This position requires either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Base Pay Grade- R

Equity Grade - 15

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: $265,000 - $325,000

USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $236,000 - $296,000

#LI-Remote

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 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.