# Senior Staff Engineer, Payments Compliance

**Company:** [Airbnb](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/airbnb)
**Location:** Remote
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $244k – $305k/yr
**Experience:** 15+ years
**Skills:** Java, Ruby, Go, C++, System Design, Architectural Patterns, Kyc, AML, Sanctions Screening, Scalable Systems
**Posted:** 2026-03-06

> Leads technical vision and architecture for Payments Compliance, spanning identity, screening, auditing. Drives customer-centric shifts, KYC expansion, regulatory adaptability at global scale. Requires 15+ years experience, backend proficiency, compliance expertise.

## Job Description

## The Job
Airbnb Payments team builds a global payments platform handling billions in transactions across 191 countries. Payments Compliance ensures regulatory adherence to avoid fines and market restrictions.

As Senior Staff Engineer and Technical Lead, own technical vision and architecture for Policy Enforcement, Identity, Screening, Auditing, and Compliance Experience. Ensure scalable systems aligned with global regulations.

## The Role
Operate at intersection of systems expertise and organizational influence. Define component integration, share capabilities, leverage platforms. Meet AML, KYC, sanctions screening obligations while minimizing costs and friction. Partner with Engineering, Product, Legal, Design.

## What You Will Do
- Own end-to-end system design vision for ~30 engineers across teams.
- Drive architectural shifts from account-centric to customer-centric models for identity, risk, enforcement.
- Lead KYC expansion for businesses, third-party APIs, payees.
- Architect adaptable systems for digital identity, verification standards, privacy regulations.
- Build flexible foundations for regulatory mandates without destabilization.
- Partner with leaders for shared capabilities, reduce duplication.
- Collaborate with Product, Design, Policy, Legal, Operations globally.
- Lead/mentor engineers, raise technical bar.
- Drive systemic improvements for development efficiency, quality.

## About You
- 15+ years technical experience, 10+ in fast-paced tech.
- Knowledge of AML, KYC, sanctions screening; designed/implemented at scale.
- Track record setting technical direction for large orgs, cross-boundary alignment.
- Designed multi-team systems focused on cohesion, reusability, maintainability.
- Excellent communication to influence stakeholders.
- Strong problem solver, production systems/on-call at scale.
- Hands-on leading projects, high-stakes tradeoffs, regulatory-to-architecture translation.
- BS/MS/PhD in CS or equivalent.
- Proficiency in back-end languages (Java, Ruby, Go, C++, etc.).
- Deep understanding of high-scale web/data architectural patterns.
- Future-looking platform thinker.
- End-to-end ownership with financial/legal judgment.

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**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cdc674ce-951e-4e8c-a409-7a42a9bd6e76