# Software Engineer

**Company:** [Cardless](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/cardless)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $165k – $260k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** Java, Python, Distributed Systems, APIs, Databases, Scaling Systems, Ml Pipelines
**Posted:** 2026-07-08

> Backend engineer designing, building, and scaling systems for a co-branded credit card platform across applications, accounts, transactions, fraud, risk, and rewards. Requires 5+ years experience with distributed systems, modern backend languages, and end-to-end project ownership.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Design and build scalable, secure, and high-performance backend systems and services that support Cardless’s core financial products.
- Contribute to architectural discussions and decisions to evolve our platform as we grow.
- Take ownership of projects from design through production — including requirements gathering, implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, designers, other engineers, and stakeholders (external partners, risk, compliance) to deliver high-quality features quickly and reliably.
- Identify and drive improvements in system reliability, observability, performance, and developer experience.
- Provide technical guidance and thought partnership to peers across the engineering organization.

## Requirements
- Strong experience designing and implementing backend systems and services that operate at scale (typically 5+ years of industry experience).
- Solid understanding of distributed systems, APIs, databases, and infrastructure fundamentals.
- Proficiency with a modern backend language (e.g. Java, Python) and ecosystem.
- Track record of delivering complex technical projects end-to-end, collaborating effectively with cross-functional partners.
- Deep, low-level expertise in one or more backend domains (e.g., databases, scaling systems, distributed systems).
- Passion for building robust, maintainable systems that have real-world impact for customers.

## Nice-to-Haves
- Experience building and maintaining external, public-facing APIs.
- Familiarity with financial systems, reconciliation workflows, or data integrity challenges.
- Exposure to ML pipelines or feature stores.

## Compensation
- Annual starting salary range of $165,000-$260,000 + equity + benefits.
- Benefits include meaningful start-up equity, 100% health/vision/dental primary coverage, 75% dependent coverage, catered lunches, $250/month commuter benefit, parental leave, team building events, flexible PTO (min 15 days), Apple equipment, 401k plan.

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**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/aa5a26c4-e2c2-457c-bd37-9df0b3d44d3f
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/aa5a26c4-e2c2-457c-bd37-9df0b3d44d3f