Backend Engineer (Order Platform)

## About the CompanyAffirm is a financial technology company focused on reinventing credit and providing consumers with flexible ways to pay without hidden fees or compounding interest.The company builds technology that supports transparent and responsible consumer financing, enabling merchants and consumers to complete transactions reliably at scale.## About the RoleAffirm is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join the Order Platform team within Financial Platforms. This role focuses on the systems that power the post-checkout lifecycle of Affirm purchases, including orders, captures, refunds, and settlement.As a senior technical leader, you will shape the technical strategy for critical backend systems, improve platform reliability and availability, and help establish capabilities that support future products and merchant needs.You will work within a small, senior engineering team responsible for consolidating the internal platform behind Affirm's post-checkout APIs, establishing clear domain boundaries, migrating existing merchants, and supporting future product launches.### Key Responsibilities* Define the team's technical strategy and connect long-term engineering direction with critical business-impacting projects.* Collaborate with product management, design, analytics, and engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.* Evaluate technical sustainability, risks, and trade-offs and ensure they are clearly understood.* Act as a technical force multiplier by defining and advocating for effective solutions and operational processes.* Own the operational health and availability of the team's systems.* Establish appropriate monitoring, testing, alerting, triage rotations, and operational playbooks.* Support reliable on-call and incident response processes.* Establish code review and design standards that promote quality and ownership.* Advocate for engineering standards through technical writing, presentations, and tech talks.* Mentor engineers and help develop technical talent through feedback, guidance, and leading by example.* Drive major system initiatives, including new capabilities, system components, and deprecation of existing functionality.### Required Qualifications* 8+ years of experience designing, developing, and launching backend systems at scale.* Strong programming experience with languages such as Python or Kotlin.* Extensive experience building highly available distributed systems.* Experience with technologies such as AWS, MySQL, Spark, and Kubernetes.* Strong understanding of API design, service boundaries, reliability, consistency, idempotency, and failure handling.* Experience working with payments, commerce, ledger systems, or other financially sensitive domains is highly valuable.* Experience creating technical and execution plans for major features or system components.* Ability to write high-quality, maintainable code that can be understood and used by other engineers.* Ability to work effectively from low-level programming concepts through large-scale system architecture.* Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.* Demonstrated ability to incorporate feedback and grow technical and organizational impact.* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.* Ability to collaborate effectively with a global engineering organization.* Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.### Technology Environment* Python* Kotlin* AWS* MySQL* Spark* Kubernetes* Distributed systems* Backend APIs and services### CompensationAffirm uses a transparent, location-based compensation structure. Base pay is part of a broader total compensation package that may include equity rewards, health and wellness stipends, technology spending allowances, and benefits.The annual US base pay ranges are:* California, Washington, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut: $230,000–$290,000* All other U.S. states: $204,000–$264,000Employees new to Affirm typically start toward the beginning of the applicable pay range, with final compensation determined by factors including location, experience, and job-related skills.### Benefits and Perks* Medical coverage with premiums fully subsidized by Affirm for employees and dependents.* Dental and vision coverage.* Flexible spending wallets with stipends for technology, food, lifestyle needs, and family-forming expenses.* Competitive vacation and holiday schedules.* Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP).* Equity rewards.* Health, wellness, and technology spending benefits.* Support for reasonable accommodations during the interview process.### Work ArrangementAffirm is a remote-first company. Most roles can be performed remotely within the country of employment, while certain proximal roles may occasionally require work from an assigned Affirm office.This position is designated as a remote opportunity.## Equal OpportunityAffirm is committed to providing an inclusive and equitable workplace and interview experience. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, veteran status, arrest or conviction records where protected by applicable law, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.