Staff Software Engineer - Python

PayPal; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 177,000 - 262,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Comprehensive health coverage for you+

Balanced hybrid work model

Job summary

PayPal is seeking a Staff Backend Python Engineer to design, build, and scale backend systems powering millions of secure global transactions. You’ll drive technical direction, mentor engineers, and ensure reliable, resilient delivery with a focus on distributed architectures and cloud-native patterns.

The role emphasizes Python (Django/Flask), microservices, and serverless approaches, with a balanced hybrid work model and strong emphasis on security, performance, and scalability in a payments

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Proven track record designing scalable backend systems with Python.
• Experience leading teams and driving technical direction in cloud environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and architecture of scalable, cloud-native backend systems.
• Define and drive the technical roadmap aligning with business goals.
• Coordinate activities of engineers and set clear technical direction.
• Mentor teams to improve engineering practices and delivery.
• Build high-availability backend systems using Python (Django/Flask).
• Collaborate with Product, Infra, and Ops to deliver outcomes.

Skills

Python

Django

Flask

Cloud-native

Microservices

Serverless

Distributed systems

AWS

GCP

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Terraform

CI/CD

Job description

The Company

PayPal has been revolutionising commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy.

We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers.

We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards. Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade.

Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day. We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities.

Job Summary:

At PayPal, Staff Software Engineers are hands-on technical leaders who design, build, and scale the systems that power millions of secure global transactions every day. As a Backend Python Engineer, you will architect and deliver high-performance, fault-tolerant backend solutions that directly impact customer experiences and business success. You’ll define technical direction, lead complex engineering efforts, and mentor teams to achieve excellence in design, development, and delivery. This role requires a deep understanding of distributed systems, cloud-native architectures, and a passion for building reliable, resilient software that drives PayPal’s mission of democratizing financial services.

Job Description:

Essential Responsibilities:

• Acts as a project or system leader, coordinating the activities of other engineers on the project or within the system
• Determines the technical tasks that other engineers will follow
• Actions result in the achievement of customer, operational, program or service objectives
• Proactively improves existing structures & processes
• Exercises judgement in reconciling diverse and competing priorities (time, quality, complexity risk) to identify optimal solutions to problems
• Notices patterns and condenses repetition into densely meaningful generalized solutions
• Collaborates with management to set/improve standards for engineering rigor
• Trusted to represent PayPal, Inc to the outside world via interactions with partners, customers, or industry organizations

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications:

Additional Qualifications

• Lead the design and architecture of scalable, cloud-native backend systems leveraging microservices and serverless frameworks.
• Define and drive the technical roadmap, ensuring engineering initiatives align with strategic business goals.
• Act as a project or system leader, coordinating the activities of other engineers and setting clear technical direction.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, fostering a culture of innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Architect and develop large-scale backend systems using Python (Django or Flask) with a focus on performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Establish and uphold engineering standards, promoting code quality, design excellence, and operational rigor.
• Design and implement fault-tolerant, high-availability systems with strong disaster recovery capabilities.
• Apply advanced security practices, including secure coding, encryption, and access control, to ensure compliance and data protection.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Infrastructure, Operations) to deliver impactful business outcomes.
• Continuously improve existing technical frameworks, development processes, and system performance.
• Exercise sound judgement in balancing time, quality, complexity, and risk to deliver optimal solutions.
• Represent PayPal externally in interactions with partners, customers, and industry organizations to promote technical excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying Agile/Scrum methodologies to software development.
• Proven background in large-scale, high-performance system design and optimization.
• Familiarity with the payments industry, financial systems, or relevant regulatory environments.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Demonstrated contributions to open-source projects or developer communities.

About The Team

The Consumer Engineering team powers the experiences that millions of PayPal customers use every day to send, spend, and manage their money safely and effortlessly. We design and build reliable, high-performance systems that drive trust and simplicity across PayPal’s global ecosystem.

Our team partners closely with product, design, and data science to deliver innovative, customer-first solutions that advance PayPal’s mission to make financial services more accessible, inclusive, and empowering for people everywhere.

Primary Location : Pay Range:

San Jose, California : ($176,500-$259,158 Salary)

Additional Location(s) : Pay Range:

Austin, Texas : ($160,500-$235,826 Salary)

Subsidiary:

PayPal

Travel Percent:

0

Primary Location : Pay Range:

San Jose, California: ($176,500.00 - $262,350.00 Annually)

Additional Location(s) : Pay Range:

Austin, Texas: ($160,500.00 - $238,700.00 Annually)

Additional compensation for this role may include an annual performance bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation, as applicable.

For the majority of employees, PayPal's balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.

Our Benefits:

At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset-you. That’s why we offer comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeing—physical, emotional, and financial—delivering meaningful value where it matters most.We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

PayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [e-mail].

Belonging at PayPal

Our employees are central to advancing our mission, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can do their best work with a sense of purpose and belonging. Belonging at PayPal means creating a workplace with a sense of acceptance and security where all employees feel included and valued. We are proud to have a diverse workforce reflective of the merchants, consumers, and communities that we serve, and we continue to take tangible actions to cultivate inclusivity and belonging at PayPal.