At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend development for a global payments platform and solve complex engineering challenges.
- Company: Join Affirm, a remote-first tech company focused on innovative payment solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy 100% health coverage, flexible time off, and stock purchase options.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for growth and collaboration across Europe.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on international payment systems while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in backend development with Python or Kotlin; strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 168000 £ per year.
Overview
Company Name: Affirm
Job Role: Senior Software Engineer, Backend (International)
Qualifications: Not specified
Category: I
Job Type: Full Time
Location: Remote UK
Requirements
- 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.
The role
At Affirm, we exist for the moments that matter - giving people a clear, predictable way to pay over time, with no hidden fees, no surprises, and no trade-offs on what matters most. The Payments International Engineering team builds and operates the systems that enable bank and card payments across Affirm’s international markets. Based in Europe, with teammates across the UK, Spain and Poland, we give customers familiar, local ways to pay, while building shared capabilities that make expansion into each new country easier. Our work spans improving existing payment experiences and building the foundations for launches in new countries. We solve challenges across currencies and local customer needs, creating reusable solutions that support Affirm’s international ambitions. We work closely with product and engineering teams across Affirm, connecting the customer experience with the financial systems behind it. We own our work from design through to production, combining the pace of international expansion with the reliability, security and operational readiness that payments demand. Testing, monitoring and supporting our systems are integral to how we build. As a growing team, we also shape the architecture, tools and engineering practices that support this growth. Joining Payments International means helping build the foundations of a global payments platform, with a direct connection between the systems we create and the customers Affirm can serve.
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
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 monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidised medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents). In addition, the employees may be eligible for equity rewards offered by Affirm Holdings, Inc. (parent company). GBP base pay range per year: £120,000 – £168,000.
Location: Remote UK
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Remote-first with flexibility built in. Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company. Most roles can be done from almost anywhere within the country of employment. Some positions may occasionally require in-person work at an Affirm office, and a few are office-based due to the nature of the work. All new hires will be invited to attend an in-person onboarding experience.
Benefits designed for you
- Health coverage at no cost: We cover 100% of premiums for employees and their dependents.
- Spending stipends: Monthly stipends support your tech setup, and the ability to choose health and wellness options that are right for you.
- Time off to recharge: Flexible time off and generous holiday calendars help you rest when you need to.
- Own a piece of what you build: Our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) lets you buy Affirm stock at a discount.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive interview process, including accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you need support, we’re happy to help.
For positions based in San Francisco or Los Angeles: Affirm considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, as required by law.
Senior Software Engineer, Backend (International) Affirm employer: Owen Thomas | B Corp™
Join an innovative early-stage legaltech startup in Central/East London, where you'll be part of a dynamic team dedicated to making legal advice accessible through cutting-edge AI technology. With a strong funding base and rapid growth, this company offers a collaborative work culture that values autonomy and creativity, providing ample opportunities for personal and professional development. As a Senior Product Engineer, you'll have the chance to make a significant impact on both the product and the company's future while working in a vibrant city known for its tech scene.
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We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer, Backend (International) Affirm
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer, Backend (International) Affirm
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 Owen Thomas | B Corp™.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Owen Thomas | B Corp™
✨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.
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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 Owen Thomas | B Corp™ uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
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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.
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