Staff Software Engineer

Whatnot

. Design, build, and ship features critical to growing the Japan market, including payment/payout methods, logistics integrations, seller onboarding and compliance, and locally tailored buyer and seller experiences .

Posted 9/15/2026full-timeTokyo • JapanLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in full-stack software engineering with a focus on building and localizing products for the Japan market, leveraging strong technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Full-Stack Software EngineeringTechnical LeadershipPython ProgrammingElixir ProgrammingJavaScript Programming

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software EngineeringSystem IntegrationE-Commerce ExperienceMarketplace ExperienceLivestream Product ExperienceLocalizationTechnical StrategyArchitecture DesignQuality Assurance0→1 Product Development

Soft Skills

Cross-Functional CollaborationCommunication Skills

Industry Keywords

Japan MarketLogistics IntegrationsPayment MethodsSeller OnboardingComplianceBuyer ExperienceSeller ExperienceTokyo Area

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ElixirJavaScriptPython

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design, build, and ship features critical to growing the Japan market, including payment/payout methods, logistics integrations, seller onboarding and compliance, and locally tailored buyer and seller experiences
Own technical strategy for Japan by partnering with the Japan GM to translate market needs into a roadmap, decide what to build and how, and own trade-offs
Determine how Japan-market work fits into Whatnot’s global architecture
Lead execution across multiple workstreams with engineers and cross-functional partners in Japan and globally
Establish the technical foundation, architecture, patterns, quality bar, and culture for Whatnot’s engineering presence in Japan
Act as the technical leader of the Japan engineering presence and bridge between the Japan business and global engineering organization

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of software engineering experience, including at high-growth technology companies
Experience operating as the technical lead of a team or initiative without direct reports
Full-stack range; comfortable moving between backend and frontend and integrating systems end-to-end
Experience with Python, Elixir, and JavaScript
Comfort with 0→1 work
Near-fluent Japanese and English, written and verbal
E-commerce, marketplace, or livestream product experience is a bonus
Japan-specific integrations (logistics, payments, identity) experience is a bonus
Experience localizing a global product for Japan is a bonus
Must live in or relocate to the Tokyo area and be able to regularly work from the Tokyo office

Benefits

Comp & perks

Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
Work From Home Support
Home office setup allowance
Monthly allowance for cell phone and internet
Care benefits
Monthly allowance for wellness
Annual allowance towards Childcare
Lifetime benefit for family planning, such as adoption or fertility expenses
Retirement; 401k offering for Traditional and Roth accounts in the US (employer match up to 4% of base salary) and Pension plans internationally
Monthly allowance to dogfood the app
Parental Leave
16 weeks of paid parental leave + one month gradual return to work