Staff Software Engineer – Financial Platform

Block

. Serve as a deep technical expert on global card networks and help Issuing teams interpret specifications, message flows, certification requirements, mandates, and production behavior .

Posted 10/31/2026full-timeRemote • AustraliaLead💰 $263,600 - $395,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates deep technical expertise in global card networks, particularly Visa, with a strong background in building and operating reliable financial systems. Proficient in leading complex engineering challenges, establishing frameworks, and applying AI-assisted engineering workflows.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Expertise In Visa Card NetworkBuilding And Operating Financial SystemsLeading Complex Engineering ProjectsCreating Frameworks And StandardsAI-Assisted Engineering Workflows

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

ISO 8583Authorization And Clearing FlowsStand-In ProcessingNetwork CertificationProduction Code WritingDebugging ProtocolsTechnical JudgmentMentorshipDesign GuidanceIncident Response

Soft Skills

Influencing Technical DirectionCollaboration Across TeamsProblem Solving

Tools & Technologies

Certification And Conformance ToolingAI-Powered Tools

Industry Keywords

Card LifecycleIssuance And FulfillmentProvisioning And ActivationLedgeringClearing And SettlementReconciliationDisputesFraudMastercardAmerican Express

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a deep technical expert on global card networks and help Issuing teams interpret specifications, message flows, certification requirements, mandates, and production behavior
Work directly with card networks to influence requirements, resolve ambiguity, and secure outcomes for Block
Lead complex, ambiguous engineering problems spanning multiple teams, systems, or domains
Partner with technical leads, program DRIs, and senior stakeholders to shape solutions where network requirements intersect with Block’s issuing platform
Write production code, build certification and conformance tooling, analyze network messages, review designs and code, and debug at the protocol and field level
Drive network certification and mandatory release cycles end to end
Establish shared frameworks, standards, tooling, and practices
Provide design guidance, code reviews, mentorship, documentation, and technical judgment
Apply AI-powered tools throughout the engineering lifecycle and establish effective patterns for broader team use
Participate in on-call, incident response, and continuous reliability and correctness improvements for critical financial systems

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience
Deep, current expertise with at least one major card network, ideally Visa, including direct connectivity, ISO 8583, authorization and clearing flows, stand-in processing, specifications, certification, and mandate cycles
Personally built, certified, or operated a live direct network connection, not only integrated through a processor
Experience working directly with card networks to achieve rulings, exceptions, extensions, configuration changes, defect fixes, or certification outcomes
Strong hands-on software engineering experience building and operating highly reliable financial or payments systems at scale
Track record of leading technically complex, ambiguous work across team boundaries and influencing technical direction beyond the immediate area of ownership
Experience creating frameworks, standards, tooling, architecture, or practices adopted by other engineers and teams
Broad understanding of the card lifecycle, including issuance and fulfillment, provisioning and activation, authorization, ledgering, clearing and settlement, reconciliation, disputes, or fraud
Working knowledge of Mastercard and American Express
Fluency with AI-assisted engineering workflows and sound judgment in evaluating and applying AI-generated output
Willingness to participate in an on-call rotation for critical financial systems

Benefits

Comp & perks

Remote work
Medical insurance
Flexible time off
Retirement savings plans
Modern family planning
Inclusive interview experience with reasonable accommodations for disabled applicants