Staff Full Stack Software Engineer (Backend) - Benefits

Rippling; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 315,000; Full time

Job summary

Rippling is hiring a Staff Full Stack Software Engineer (Backend) to help build the Global Benefits marketplace. Based in Seattle, WA, you will lead architecture decisions, design scalable systems, and work across domains including API design and data modeling to deliver high-impact benefits products.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, and drive AI-enabled development across the Benefits Platform and Marketplace, influencing the technical roadmap and product

Qualifications

• Extensive experience: 8+ years in software development and 3+ years as senior technical leader.
• Experience building and scaling large-scale platforms for web/mobile applications.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems using Python and AWS; familiarity with Golang/Java/Django/React is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive architecture and design for 0-to-1 initiatives and scale existing systems.
• Balance long-term scalable solutions with short-term delivery needs.
• Work across domains: API design, data modeling, ETL, and business logic.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and influence engineering roadmap with data.
• Mentor and uplift the team toward engineering excellence and collaboration.
• Champion AI-driven development and guide teams in adopting AI tools.

Skills

8+ years exp

Senior technical leader

Distributed systems

Python

AWS

Golang

Java

Django

React

Job description

Staff Full Stack Software Engineer (Backend) - Global Benefits

Rippling Seattle, Washington, United States

About Rippling

Rippling gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Finance. It brings together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. For the first time ever, you can manage and automate every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system.

Take onboarding, for example. With Rippling, you can hire a new employee anywhere in the world and set up their payroll, corporate card, computer, benefits, and even third‑party apps like Slack and Microsoft 365—all within 90 seconds.

Based in San Francisco, CA, Rippling has raised $1.4B+ from the world’s top investors—including Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Sequoia, Greenoaks, and Bedrock—and was named one of America’s best startup employers by Forbes.

We prioritize candidate safety. Please be aware that all official communication will only be sent from @Rippling.com addresses.

About the role

Join us in revolutionizing the benefits industry by building the first multi‑sided Global Benefits Marketplace. Every year, over $5 trillion is spent globally by employers and employees on benefits, ranging from health insurance to retirement savings. These products play a crucial role in guiding families through some of life's most significant decisions.

Despite their importance, the current benefits experience remains outdated, costly, and often confusing. At Rippling, we are transforming this landscape with our innovative, modern marketplace that effortlessly connects brokers, employers, and employees with a wide array of benefits.

Our cutting‑edge platform facilitates the discovery, purchase, and utilization of benefits products worldwide. This role involves working within our benefits vertical, which includes our advanced Benefits Platform (featuring recommendations, payments, and a benefits eligibility engine), our rapidly expanding Benefits Marketplace with over 100 partners, and our proprietary Rippling Benefits Products.

What you will do

• Drive Architecture & Design : Work on 0‑to‑1 projects as well as enhance existing system scalability, maintainability, and expandability by designing and developing high‑quality software products, leading architectural decisions, and managing the full product delivery lifecycle.
• Design for the Long‑Term, Execute for the Short‑Term : Deal with ambiguity, propose and drive alignment around long‑term scalable solutions. Then find ways to move fast in the short term, incrementally moving toward the target state.
• Innovate Across Domains : Engage in API design, event modeling, data modeling, ETL, and the development of business logic and customer‑facing features with an emphasis on innovation and excellence.
• Collaborate and Lead : Work closely with cross‑functional teams, integrating customer feedback into the engineering roadmap. Use data (not ego) to support technical discussions.
• Mentor and Inspire : Uplevel the team, promoting engineering excellence and a culture of continuous learning. Lead by example and advocate for best practices in both development and collaboration.
• Champion AI‑Driven Development : Lead the team's adoption of modern AI development tools and practices, coaching engineers on effective usage, shaping workflows around AI‑assisted engineering.

What you will need

• Extensive Experience : +8 years of professional experience in software development, with a proven track record of delivering high‑quality solutions. 3+ years of experience operating as a senior technical leader on multi‑team/system initiatives.
• Platform Development Expertise : Demonstrated experience building and scaling large‑scale platforms for web and mobile applications in complex and ambiguous problem spaces.
• Technical Proficiency : Deep expertise in distributed systems development using Python and AWS. Experience with Golang, Java, Django, or React is a plus.
• Solid Computer Science Foundations : Ability to tackle challenging and ambiguous technical problems, backed by strong computer science fundamentals.
• Product Ownership : A high sense of ownership with the ability to drive initiatives through the finish line, even when they cross team boundaries. Quick to learn and adaptable in a fast‑paced environment.
• Driving Alignment : Comfortably challenge assumptions, providing data‑driven pushback, and aligning diverse stakeholders around a clear plan.
• Customer‑Driven Mindset : Passionate about delivering customer‑centric solutions, where creating meaningful value and impact is a top priority.

Additional Information

Rippling is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Rippling is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities who need assistance during the hiring process. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email [e-mail].

Rippling highly values having employees working in‑office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. For office‑based employees (employees who live within a defined radius of a Rippling office), Rippling considers working in the office, at least three days a week under current policy, to be an essential function of the employee’s role.

Salary Information

The pay range for this role is: 189,000 - 315,000 USD per year (US Tier 1).