# Software Engineer, Payments Product Lead

**Company:** [Aptos](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/aptos)
**Location:** Palo Alto, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $160k – $260k/yr
**Experience:** 8+ years
**Skills:** payment apis, payment infrastructure, stablecoins, usdt, usdc, Blockchain, move, Rust, kyc/kyb, reconciliation, fx, testnet sandbox, wallet infrastructure, cross-border payments, API Integrations
**Posted:** 2026-08-03

> Founding technical leader for a payments business, responsible for building its core API, settlement and reconciliation infrastructure, partner integrations, and initial engineering team. Requires 8+ years of production-scale payments experience, chain-native settlement expertise, and strong external partner leadership.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities

- Own the Aptos Payment API: specify, ship, and operate the API businesses integrate with.
- Write the API specification from partner and client requirements.
- Lead partner-facing engineering, including requirements intake, integrations, and technical diligence with banks, EMIs, PSPs, stablecoin issuers, and e-wallet platforms.
- Build trust infrastructure for revenue attribution, reconciliation, KYC/KYB integration, prospect sandboxing, and native-asset-only settlement.
- Define the payments-side integration with the trading stack, including corridor FX routing and API contracts.
- Hire and lead the first two engineers and make build-versus-buy decisions for orchestration and KYC tooling.
- Publish the Payment API v1 specification and ship the testnet sandbox within the first 90 days.
- Stand up revenue attribution and production-grade USDT/USDC settlement rails.
- Ship the first client integration hands-on, end to end.

## Requirements

- **8+ years** building payment infrastructure at production scale, including PSP- or orchestrator-class systems such as cross-border rails, on/off-ramps, virtual accounts, or reconciliation.
- Hands-on experience with chain-native settlement, stablecoin rails, ramp integrations, or wallet infrastructure.
- Strong engineering judgment across technology stacks; Move or Rust experience is a plus.
- Experience leading external technical relationships with banks, issuers, and regulated partners.
- Product-engineering instincts and experience building from client and partner needs.
- Player-coach approach with the ability to ship code and hire and lead engineers.

## Nice to Have

- APAC corridor experience, including e-wallet ecosystems, QR rails, or regional licensing landscapes.
- Fluency in FX and market structure.
- Familiarity with payments regulation, including money transmission, MiCA, or the Singapore PS Act.
- Prior 0-to-1 experience as a founding engineer, first technical hire, or owner of a product line from inception to revenue.

## Compensation and Benefits

- Base salary range: **$160,000–$260,000** for a full-time position.
- Base salary excludes equity, tokens, and benefits.
- 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance premium coverage for US employees and dependents.
- Equipment of choice.
- Flexible vacation time, 11 holidays, and floating company days off.
- Protocol token grants.
- 401(k) matching for US employees.
- Inclusive in-person and digital events.

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