Distinguished Software Engineer, Affirm
CA$270-310k
+ ESPP
POS installment loans
Be an early applicant
POS installment loans
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
CA$270-310k
+ ESPP
1001+ employees
Company mission
To deliver honest and transparent financial products that improve users' lives.
Role
Who you are
- Proven success leading technical architecture for large-scale consumer systems, ideally across multiple domains or product lines
- Deep experience guiding engineering strategy and delivery at both high-growth startups and mature technology companies
- Ability to distill complex technical problems and trade-offs into clear decisions that influence product and platform evolution
- Effective communicator, capable of engaging both engineers and executives to drive alignment and clarity
- Track record of mentoring senior engineers and developing the next generation of technical leaders
- Extensive experience building and operating large-scale, highly available systems
- 15+ years of software engineering experience, with prior experience in technical leadership roles
- Experience in Fintech or retail (consumer and merchant-facing systems) is a plus
- Experience with Machine Learning infrastructure (e.g. feature stores, training pipelines, low-latency inference) is a plus
- JVM experience at scale is a plus
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience
What the job involves
- In this role, you will be a senior member of Affirm’s Architecture Group, reporting directly to the Head of Architecture
- You will own the architecture, technical roadmap, and delivery outcomes for the Decisions Foundations Engineering Group, which includes the Purchasing, Credit Underwriting, and Machine Learning domains
- You will also shape Affirm’s broader technical direction through leadership within the Architecture Group, driving innovation and architectural coherence across the company
- You will serve as the accountable technical leader for three critical domains:
- Purchasing, which powers Affirm’s checkout platform and is focused on optimizing the consumer experience during checkout and prequalification
- Credit Underwriting, which manages credit risk and drives conversion through pricing and credit levers
- Machine Learning Infrastructure, which supports Affirm’s credit and fraud models through scalable ML systems, including model training, inference, and feature serving
- You'll drive the long-term technical vision for Affirm’s Purchasing, Credit Underwriting, and ML infrastructure domains
- Lead architectural strategy and roadmap definition in collaboration with domain tech leads and the broader Architecture Group
- Champion scalable, performant, and user-centric solutions across Affirm’s engineering organization
- Define and uphold standards for design and code quality through reviews, mentoring, and hands-on architectural guidance
- Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to influence product direction and ensure strong alignment between business goals and system architecture
- Guide cross-functional teams to deliver end-to-end solutions across service boundaries and external dependencies
- Mentor and support a team of senior technical leaders, helping them grow as architects and stewards of Affirm’s long-term systems health
- Foster a culture of rigor, curiosity, and technical excellence across engineering
Our take
Affirm offers point-of-sale loans to consumers, working with merchants like Shopify, KAYAK, and Walmart. Buy now, pay later transactions have grown in popularity in recent years, and this business is tapping into the market with a totally different approach to credit - by delivering the Affirm card, the first US debit card with the option to pay-over-time.
Boasting over 21M consumers and 337,000+ merchants, the company offers flexible payback options, ranging from 3 to 36 months. The interest rates run between 0% and 30%, so, while they are not necessarily the cheapest option, Affirm prides itself on having no fees for late payments, no hidden charges, and total transparency about what people will pay before they take out a loan.
Affirm collects payments from the customers and pays the merchants directly, shouldering the risk itself. The company has boosted its market share, expanding its availability beyond the US to include most of Canada, and continues to launch new features and create new partnerships towards bettering its offering.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
-11% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Sep 2020
$500m
SERIES G
Apr 2019
$300m
SERIES F
Total funding: $1.1bn
Company benefits
- Compensation: We have a simple, flexible, and transparent remote-first compensation structure so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family
- Spending Wallets: Access tech, food, lifestyle, and family planning wallets for your expenses
- Supportive Communities: Get involved with our employee resource groups and community groups
- Remote-first Workforce: If your role is remote, you can set up shop anywhere in your home country
- Generous Time Off: Take the time you need when life happens
- Health Benefits: Get a plan that fits your needs
- Mental Healthcare: Take care of your mind with great mental health programs
- Parental Leave: Birth and non-birth parents get 18 weeks’ paid leave. Plus, a 4-week return-to-work transition program, at full base pay
- Away Days: We offer 20 company-wide paid days off—which help our teams collectively pause to recharge
- Learning & Development: Engage in exciting learning programs to level up your growth
Company HQ
Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
Leadership
Max Levchin
(Co-Founder & CEO)Has founded/co-founded numerous companies, holding various executive positions at each, including Paypal, Slide, Glow, HVF Labs, and SciFi VC. Also worked at large brands including Google, Yelp, Yahoo, and Evernote.
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