Software Engineer - Backend
165k – 260kSan Francisco, CABackend EngineeringOnsite5+ YOE
Summary
Designs, builds, and scales backend systems for co-branded credit card platform handling applications, accounts, transactions, fraud, risk, and rewards. Requires 5+ years experience with distributed systems, APIs, databases, and backend languages like Java or Python.
About the role
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 Have
- 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
Skills
JavaPythondistributed systemsAPIsdatabasesinfrastructurescaling systems
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