Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Virtual Cards Platform)

Affirm; Portland (OR); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for their Backend Virtual Cards Platform. This role involves setting the technical strategy, collaborating across teams, and ensuring operational excellence within a remote-first environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in backend systems, particularly with Python or Kotlin, and a strong background in distributed systems. Join a forward-thinking organization that values quality, ownership, and collaboration, offering competitive compensation and a flexible work environment.

Benefits

Health care coverage for you and dependents

Flexible Spending Wallets

Generous vacation and holiday policies

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in backend systems design and development.
• Extensive experience with distributed systems and cloud technologies.

Responsibilities

• Set technical strategy and align with business projects.
• Collaborate across teams for technical sustainability and risk management.

Skills

Python

Kotlin

AWS

MySQL

Spark

Kubernetes

Backend Systems Design

Distributed Systems

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a Related Field

Job description

Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Virtual Cards Platform)

Join to apply for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Virtual Cards Platform) role at Affirm

Role Overview

Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest.

The Virtual Cards (VCN) Platform Engineering team powers all of Affirm's products that depend on one-time-use cards. Virtual cards enable consumers to leverage Affirm’s financial products at virtually any merchant that accepts card payments, supporting online ecommerce, physical in-store, and digital wallet integrations such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. By providing systems that bridge Affirm and external credit networks like Visa, the VCN Platform team is essential for scaling Affirm’s network.

What You'll Do

• Set technical strategy for your team over a year-long horizon, aligning it with critical business-impacting projects.
• Collaborate across teams in the product development lifecycle with product management, design, and analytics to ensure technical sustainability, risk management, and understanding of trade-offs.
• Act as a force-multiplier by defining and advocating for technical solutions and operational processes.
• Own your team’s operations and availability, ensuring proper monitoring, triage rotations, playbooks, policies, testing, and alerting to support reliable on-call efforts.
• Foster a culture of quality and ownership by setting code review and design standards, and advocating for them through writing and tech talks.
• Develop talent by providing feedback, guidance, and leading by example.

What We Look For

• 7+ years of experience designing, developing, and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin.
• Extensive experience with highly available distributed systems using AWS, MySQL, Spark, and Kubernetes.
• Proven ability to deliver major features and system components, deprecate functionalities, and write high-quality, understandable code.
• Comfort with ambiguity, from low-level language idioms to large system architecture.
• Demonstrated growth and impact through feedback iteration from engineering and cross-functional peers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration in a global team.
• Experience in the card network landscape, building and launching card products or related payment technologies.
• Equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Additional Details

Base Pay Grade: P

Equity Grade: 13

Competitive total compensation includes base pay, equity, stipends, and benefits such as health coverage, wellness stipends, time off, and stock purchase plans.

Location: Remote - US. Affirm is a remote-first company, with some roles requiring occasional office presence.

Benefits

• Health care coverage for you and dependents
• Flexible Spending Wallets for technology, food, lifestyle, and family expenses
• Generous vacation and holiday policies
• Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

We provide inclusive hiring practices and accommodations for candidates with disabilities. Affirm considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, per local ordinances.

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