Staff Software Engineer

AeroPay; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage

Flexible PTO

401(k) Employer Match

Maternity/Paternity Leave

Job summary

Aeropay, a Chicago-based fintech, is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to design, develop and implement high-quality software within a focused product domain. You will work with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions that meet customer needs and drive business growth.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of progressive engineering leadership, strong Python skills, and a track record of improving code quality and architecture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or related certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience.
• Strong proficiency with Python.
• Relational databases and SQL experience.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and implement software solutions scalable within the domain.
• Participate in all stages of the software lifecycle with a focus on domain needs.
• Champion maintainable codebases with automated testing and reviews.
• Lead initiatives to reduce technical debt and enforce coding standards.
• Write clean, documented, efficient code following domain best practices.
• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Troubleshoot and debug domain-specific issues.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of development processes.
• Stay updated on industry trends relevant to the domain.
• Understand business logic and technical architecture of the product domain.
• Contribute to the technical roadmap and strategy for the domain.

Skills

Python

Object-oriented programming

SQL

Agile methodologies

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

Independent work

Domain learning

Education

Bachelor’s degree or related certification

Tools

SQL

Job description

Staff Software Engineer

Chicago, IL

$180,000 ‒ $200,000 annually

Reports to: Sr. Director of Engineering

FLSA Status: Exempt

About Us:

We have been recognized as one of Built In Chicago’s Best Startups to Work for in 2026!

Aeropay is a financial technology company modernizing money movement with pay by bank solutions. Headquartered in Chicago and backed by leading investors, Aeropay enables businesses to accept compliant, cashless payments through direct bank-to-bank (ACH) transfers, eliminating card fees and outdated payment rails. Powering online checkouts, in-store transactions and embedded payments, Aeropay’s flexible APIs and integrations are built on a secure and scalable infrastructure with compliance at the core. In industries where risk mitigation and user experience matter most, our platform gives our partners a faster, safer and more intuitive way to pay.

Aeropay is redefining what it means to pay—and get paid—by bank.

Position Overview:

The Staff Software Engineer is a vital member of the Engineering team at Aeropay, responsible for designing, developing and implementing high-quality software solutions within a specific product domain. This role requires a strong technical foundation, a passion for innovation and a collaborative approach to problem-solving. The Staff Software Engineer will contribute to the full software development lifecycle, working closely with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional products that meet customer needs and drive business growth within their assigned domain. This position offers an opportunity to become a subject matter expert and make a significant impact on the company's technical direction, contributing to a culture of engineering excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and implement software solutions that are scalable, reliable and maintainable within the assigned product domain
• Participate in all phases of the software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering and design to testing and deployment — with a focus on the specific needs and challenges of the domain
• Champion scalable and maintainable codebases through rigorous code reviews, automated testing practices and long-term architectural thinking
• Lead initiatives to reduce technical debt, enforce coding standards and drive continuous improvements in code quality across engineering teams
• Write clean, well-documented and efficient code, adhering to the standards and best practices of the domain
• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to peers, with a focus on domain-specific knowledge and expertise
• Troubleshoot and debug software issues within the domain, leveraging in-depth understanding of the system and its components
• Proactively contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes and best practices within the domain
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies relevant to the domain
• Develop a deep understanding of the assigned product domain, including its business logic, user needs and technical architecture
• Contribute to the technical roadmap and strategy for the domain

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or extensive certification in a related field is preferred
• 10+ years of relevant experience in progressive engineering leadership roles
• Strong proficiency with Python
• Solid understanding of object-oriented programming principles and design patterns
• Experience with relational databases and SQL
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• A strong desire to learn and become a subject matter expert in a specific product domain

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary Range: $180K - $200K base salary
• Benefits Offered:
  • Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
  • Flexible PTO
  • 401(k) Employer Match
  • Maternity/Paternity Leave

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Aeropay is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because that is what drives curiosity, innovation and the overall success of our business. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, parental status, genetic history, political affiliation or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations in which we operate.