Staff Full Stack Engineer (Backend-Leaning)

Staff Full Stack Engineer (Backend-Leaning)

Location: New York, NY — Hybrid (~3 days/week onsite, SoHo)

Compensation: $180,000 – $220,000 base + equity

Visa Sponsorship: Not supported

Experience Level: 8+ years

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Client

The client is building the modern operating system for the debt collection industry — a single system of record paired with an API-first workflow engine that handles accounts, outreach, payments, compliance, and reporting for collection agencies. The platform is early-stage, funded, and live with production customers.

The Role

This is a staff-level, backend-leaning full-stack engineering role with end-to-end ownership of major features and architecture on a production fintech platform. You'll work directly with the Head of Engineering and CEO on a lean, senior team — high ownership, real equity, and meaningful influence over the product and the codebase.

What You'll Own

• Own major features and architecture end to end — from scoping through deployment and iteration
• Build and operate backend services powering an API-first workflow engine for accounts, outreach, payments, compliance, and reporting
• Develop and maintain React + Redux frontends where the work calls for full-stack range
• Operate and improve cloud infrastructure on AWS, containerized with Docker and Kubernetes
• Debug production issues and drive reliability and scalability improvements
• Integrate third-party and payment infrastructure as the platform expands

Requirements

• 8+ years building production web applications
• 5+ years of professional experience with both Python and Django (both required, at depth)
• React + Redux frontend proficiency
• Hands-on operating experience with Docker and Kubernetes
• Experience owning AWS infrastructure
• Strong SQL / PostgreSQL fundamentals
• NYC-based and able to work onsite ~3 days/week (hybrid) — no relocation assistance

Nice to Have

• Django REST Framework (DRF)
• Terraform, Celery, GitHub Actions
• Third-party / payment infrastructure integrations, SFTP, or payment processor work
• Track record debugging production issues and improving reliability and scalability
• Demonstrated ownership across scoping, deployment, and iteration, plus mentoring
• Fintech, collections, or compliance domain exposure
• Full-stack range with a clear area of depth ("jack of all trades, expert in one")

This Role Is NOT For

• Frontend-heavy "full stack" engineers with thin backend depth — this role is backend-leaning
• Engineers strong in Python or Django but not both at depth
• Pure ticket-execution profiles without production ownership
• Enterprise-only backgrounds with no early-stage or 0-to-1 comfort
• Candidates unable to be onsite ~3 days/week in NYC

Logistics

• Hybrid role — ~3 days/week onsite in SoHo, New York, NY; please only apply if you can commit to this
• No relocation assistance available

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by David Joseph & Co.