Staff Software Engineer – Financial Platform

Block

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

Posted 11/5/2026full-timeRemote • Washington • United StatesLead💰 $263,600 - $395,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates deep technical expertise in global card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, with a strong focus on building and operating reliable financial systems. Proficient in leading complex engineering challenges, establishing frameworks, and applying AI-powered tools throughout the engineering lifecycle.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Deep Expertise In Card NetworksISO 8583 Authorization And Clearing FlowsHands-On Software Engineering ExperienceFrameworks And Standards CreationAI-Assisted Engineering Workflows

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Network CertificationProduction Code WritingDebugging ProtocolsMessage Flow AnalysisConformance Tooling DevelopmentTechnical Design GuidanceIncident Response ParticipationFinancial Systems ReliabilityStand-In ProcessingCard Lifecycle Understanding

Soft Skills

MentorshipCollaborationInfluencing Technical DirectionProblem SolvingCommunication

Tools & Technologies

AI-Powered ToolsCertification ToolsNetwork Message Analysis Tools

Industry Keywords

Card Network SpecificationsCertification RequirementsMandate CyclesDirect Network ConnectionPayments Systems

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a deep technical expert on global card networks and 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 at the network boundary across teams, systems, and domains
Partner with technical leads, program DRIs, and senior stakeholders to shape solutions
Write production code, build certification and conformance tooling, analyze network messages, review designs and code, and debug at 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
Participate in on-call, incident response, and continuous reliability and correctness improvements

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep, current expertise with at least one major card network, ideally Visa
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
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
Experience leading technically complex, ambiguous work across team boundaries and influencing technical direction
Experience creating frameworks, standards, tooling, architecture, or practices adopted by other engineers and teams
Broad understanding of the card lifecycle
Working knowledge of Mastercard and American Express
Fluency with AI-assisted engineering workflows and sound judgment evaluating 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
Reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process