Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Payments)

Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Payments)

Full-Time 117000 - 157000 £ / year (est.) Remote
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of high-performance payment systems and solve complex engineering challenges.
  • Company: Join Affirm, a forward-thinking company transforming credit for consumers.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, comprehensive health coverage, and flexible spending options.
  • Other info: Embrace a culture of growth, collaboration, and innovation in a remote-first environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech space while working remotely with a dynamic team.
  • Qualifications: 4+ years in backend development with expertise in Python or Kotlin and cloud technologies.

The predicted salary is between 117000 - 157000 £ per year.

Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest.

About the Engineering team

The Engineering team builds systems that power Affirm’s mission. We take pride in our craft, building reliable, performant, and scalable solutions that touch every part of the business. Whether we’re enabling new ways to pay, ensuring our platforms can scale to the most demanding levels in the industry, or developing seamless servicing experiences, our focus is on solving complex problems through exceptional engineering.

About the team

As part of the Consumer Payments team at Affirm, you'll be working on Affirm's Payment Processing Network. These systems currently process billions of dollars in payments each year and are vital components in Affirm's platform. We are looking for highly motivated software engineers who are passionate about building high throughput, high availability systems that can grow alongside a high growth business. You will be working alongside multiple partner teams across Europe and the US to support feature development, international expansion as well as moving the dial on key financial metrics for the business.

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.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay Grade - N Equity Grade - 5 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% subsidised medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.) Base pay range per year: £117,000 - £157,000 Location: UK Remote

Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company! The majority of our roles are remote and you can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Affirmers in proximal roles have the flexibility to work remotely, but will occasionally be required to work out of their assigned Affirm office. A limited number of roles remain office-based due to the nature of their job responsibilities. We’re extremely proud to offer competitive benefits that are anchored to our core value of people come first. Some key highlights of our benefits package include:

  • Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents
  • Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses
  • Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge
  • ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount

We believe It’s On Us to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process.

Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Payments) employer: Affirm

At Affirm, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to make a meaningful impact in the world of finance. As a Remote Analytics Manager, you'll not only lead critical fraud detection initiatives but also benefit from our commitment to professional growth, flexible working arrangements, and a supportive environment that values your contributions. Join us in our mission to create a more honest and friendly credit experience while enjoying the unique advantages of working with a forward-thinking team dedicated to excellence.

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Contact Details:

Affirm Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Payments)

✨Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Affirm or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

✨Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Affirm.

✨Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Affirm.

✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Affirm that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Payments)

Backend Development
Python
Kotlin
Distributed Systems
AWS
MySQL
Kubernetes

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Affirm.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Affirm and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Affirm

✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Affirm uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

✨Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.