Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Trust & Safety)

Posted 8 Minutes Ago
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Hiring Remotely in United States
Remote
173K-255K Annually
Senior level
Big Data • Fintech • Mobile • Payments • Financial Services
We create honest financial products that improve lives. Ready to make a difference?
The Role
Own quarterly engineering goals, lead backend engineers through ambiguous problems, collaborate with product and analytics partners, improve system reliability and availability, monitor operational metrics, establish quality standards, and mentor team members. The role requires designing and launching highly available distributed backend systems at scale using Python or Kotlin, AWS, MySQL, and Kubernetes, while driving technical planning and safe changes across large codebases.
Summary Generated by Built In

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.

Trust & Safety Engineering protects Affirm’s consumers, merchants, and network from fraud and abuse. We build the real-time systems, risk signals, and tools that stop bad actors without adding friction for the people we serve. Our engineers work with data science, risk, and operations to stay ahead of evolving threats at scale

You will be matched with a role after completing the interview evaluation process. Your recruiter will work closely with you throughout the process to understand your interests and experience to find the strongest role fit.

What you’ll do
  • You will be responsible for owning and delivering quarterly goals for your team, leading engineers on your team through ambiguity to solve open-ended problems, and ensuring that everyone is supported throughout delivery.
  • You will support your peers and stakeholders in the product development lifecycle by collaborating with product management, design & analytics by participating in ideation, articulating technical constraints, and partnering on decisions that properly consider risks and trade-offs.
  • You will proactively identify project, process, technology or business issues, advocate for them, and lead in solving them.
  • You will support the operations and availability of your team’s artifacts by creating and monitoring metrics, escalating when needed, and supporting “keep the lights on” & on-call efforts.
  • You will foster a culture of quality and ownership on your team by setting or improving code review and design standards for your team, and advocating for them beyond your team through your writing and tech talks.
  • You will help develop talent on your team by providing feedback and guidance, and leading by example.
What we look for
  • You have 4+ years of experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin.
  • You have a track record of developing highly available distributed systems using technologies like AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes.
  • You have experience defining a technical plan for the delivery of a significant feature or system component with an elegant, simple and extensible design. You write high quality code that is easily understood and used by others.
  • You are proficient at making significant changes in a large code base, and have developed a suite of tools and practices that enable you and your team to do so safely.
  • Your experience demonstrates that you take ownership of your growth, proactively seeking feedback from your team, your manager, and your stakeholders.
  • You have strong verbal and written communication skills that support effective collaboration with our global engineering team.
  • This position requires either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Base Pay Grade - N

Equity Grade - USA 9

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 Pacific base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT): $195,000 - $255,000

USA Sapphire base pay range (all other U.S. states): $173,000 - $233,000

 
#LI-Remote

Remote-first with flexibility built in
Affirm 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 you
Our 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.

By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read Affirm's Global Candidate Privacy Notice and consent to the use of your personal information as described.

Skills Required

  • 4+ years of experience designing, developing, and launching backend systems at scale
  • Experience using languages such as Python or Kotlin
  • Experience developing highly available distributed systems
  • Experience with AWS, MySQL, and Kubernetes
  • Ability to define technical plans for significant features or system components with elegant, simple, and extensible designs
  • Ability to write high-quality, understandable, reusable code
  • Experience making significant changes safely in a large codebase using appropriate tools and practices
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Equivalent practical experience or a bachelor's degree in a related field

What the Team is Saying

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Affirm Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is highlighted as a standout, including 100% employer-paid medical premiums for employees and dependents alongside access to mental-health support and coaching sessions. These elements position the medical offering as comprehensive and easy to use.
  • Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is notably generous at 18 weeks for birth and non-birth parents, complemented by a four-week return-to-work transition at full base pay. Additional family-building support and related resources further strengthen this area.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is positioned as broad and flexible, with flexible PTO plus approximately 20 company-wide paid Away Days designed to encourage rest. This structure aims to make downtime accessible across the organization.

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The Company
HQ: San Francisco, CA
2,200 Employees
Year Founded: 2012

What We Do

At Affirm, we help people say yes to the things that matter with flexible, transparent ways to pay over time. No hidden fees, no compound interest, and no fine print—just a smarter way to spend.

Why Work With Us

Who is an Affirmer? /noun/ Someone who believes finance shouldn’t be complicated. We come from a diverse set of backgrounds and we’re driven by the desire to improve lives through honest financial products. We define success by challenging one another to bring our best ideas to every single project—and we have fun while doing it.

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Affirm Offices

Remote Workspace

Employees work remotely.

Affirm is a remote-first company! Our employees can work anywhere in the U.S. but if an office is more your style, we have office locations in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Pittsburgh.

Typical time on-site:
HQSan Francisco, CA
Spain
United Kingdom
Chicago, IL
New York, NY
Toronto, ON
Warsaw, PL
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