Staff Software Engineer, Backend – Identity Decisioning

Affirm

. Set technical strategy for the team on a year-long timescale .

Posted 9/28/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $204,000 - $290,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing and developing highly available distributed systems, with a strong focus on backend systems using Python or Kotlin. Proven ability to lead technical strategy, advocate for engineering standards, and develop team talent through effective communication and mentorship.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Backend System DevelopmentDistributed Systems DesignAWS ExperienceKubernetes ProficiencyTechnical Strategy Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

PythonKotlinMySQLSparkCode ReviewSystem ArchitectureTechnical SolutionsOperational ProcessesHigh-Quality Code WritingFeature Delivery

Soft Skills

Verbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationTeam LeadershipFeedback IterationMentorship

Tools & Technologies

AWSKubernetesMySQLSpark

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Related Field

Industry Keywords

Technical StrategyProduct Development LifecycleMonitoringTriage RotationsOn-Call Support

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSDistributed SystemsKotlinKubernetesMySQLPythonSpark

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Set technical strategy for the team on a year-long timescale
Connect team strategy with critical, business-impacting projects
Collaborate with product management, design and analytics throughout the product development lifecycle
Ensure technical sustainability, risks and trade-offs are understood and managed
Define and advocate for technical solutions and operational processes
Own team operations and availability, including monitoring, triage rotations, playbooks, policies, testing and alerting
Support keep-the-lights-on and on-call efforts
Establish code review and design standards
Advocate for engineering standards through writing and tech talks
Develop team talent through feedback, guidance and leading by example

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin
Extensive experience developing highly available distributed systems
Experience with AWS, MySQL, Spark and Kubernetes
Experience delivering major features or system components, or deprecating existing functionality, through technical and execution plans
Ability to write high-quality, readable code
Ability to work from low-level language idioms through large-system architecture
Demonstrated growth and impact through gathering and iterating on peer feedback
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity rewards
Monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending
100% subsidized medical coverage for employees and dependents
Dental and vision coverage for employees and dependents
Flexible time off
Generous holiday calendars
Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) with discounted Affirm stock
In-person onboarding experience
Inclusive interview process and accommodations for candidates with disabilities