Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Consumer Data Platform)

At affirm, we exist for the moments that matter—giving people a clear, predictable way to pay over time, with no hidden fees, no surprises, and no tradeoffs on what matters most.

The Growth Platform Engineering team builds the core systems and tools that drive user acquisition, engagement, and lifecycle growth at affirm. Our platform enables personalized communications, intelligent experimentation, and scalable services that help customers discover and adopt affirm’s products.

We collaborate closely with Product, Data Science, and Experience teams to design APIs, event-driven services, and experimentation frameworks that reach millions of customers across thousands of merchants. This team’s work directly impacts how customers experience affirm and fuels our long-term growth.

We’re looking for a passionate Senior Software Engineer to design and build backend systems that power affirm’s growth engine. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role that combines technical excellence with strong product intuition.

You’ll contribute to scalable, secure, and extensible services that enable affirm to reach new customers, improve engagement, and expand our product ecosystem. The systems you build will directly influence customer experiences and affirm’s overall growth trajectory.

What you’ll do

• Drive planning and prioritization of projects based on product, technical, and business goals using data-driven decision making.
• Design and build scalable backend systems, APIs, and data models that power communications, experimentation, and personalization.
• Partner with Product Managers, Data Scientists, and Analysts to define and execute strategies for customer acquisition and engagement.
• Establish and uphold engineering best practices to ensure services are secure, observable, and performant at scale.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, contributing to a culture of learning, collaboration, and technical excellence.

What we look for

• 6+ years of experience as a Software Engineer with a focus on backend systems.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, service-oriented architecture, and how architectural choices affect scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Proven track record of delivering complex backend systems in production environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proficiency in asynchronous communication (design docs, technical specs, project plans, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across Product, Data Science, Analytics, and Design teams.
• Proficiency in Python, Kotlin, or similar languages (experience with both is a plus).
• Experience with AWS or other major cloud providers.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with experimentation platforms (A/B testing frameworks, feature flagging systems).
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures and stream processing tools (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis).
• Exposure to large-scale personalization, recommendation, or messaging systems.

You will support the operations and availability of your team’s artifacts by creating and monitoring metrics, escalating when needed, and supporting "keep the lights on" & on-call efforts

This remote role is open only to candidates residing in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, or Saskatchewan.

Pay Grade - N Equity Grade - 6

Employees new to affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.

Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)

CAN base pay range per year: $153,000 - $213,000 CAD

Remote-first with flexibility built in

Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company. Most roles can be done from almost anywhere within the country of employment. Some positions may occasionally require in-person work at an affirm office, and a few are office-based due to the nature of the work. All new hires will be invited to attend an in-person onboarding experience.

Benefits designed for you

Our benefits reflect our commitment to care, transparency, and flexibility. Here are a few highlights:

• Health coverage at no cost: We cover 100% of premiums for employees and their dependents.
• Spending stipends: Monthly stipends support your tech setup, and the ability to choose health and wellness options that are right for you.
• Time off to recharge: Flexible time off and generous holiday calendars help you rest when you need to.
• Own a piece of what you build: Our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) lets you buy affirm stock at a discount.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive interview process, including accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you need support, we’re happy to help.

For positions based in San Francisco or Los Angeles: affirm considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, as required by law.