Software Engineer, Backend

## About the Role Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without hidden fees or compounding interest. The Data and Storage Services team builds and operates Affirm’s data infrastructure across OLTP and OLAP systems, including critical online checkout databases, batch orchestration, streaming infrastructure, event-driven frameworks, BI and analytics tooling, large-scale data platforms, and agentic data tools such as semantic layers and internal platform data applications. The Online Storage team provides managed database platforms used by Affirm services to persist data at scale. The platform supports self-service access to OLTP storage systems, including relational databases such as MySQL, DynamoDB, Distributed SQL, and Redis. The team supports a broad range of data and access patterns, including mission-critical financial transactions, data science models, and emerging persistence use cases. As a Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Online Storage), you will drive the technical roadmap for relational and key-value database infrastructure. You will help improve how Affirm builds, productizes, operates, and scales mission-critical storage systems while influencing technical strategy, collaborating across engineering teams, and helping deliver highly available and efficient database infrastructure. ## Key Responsibilities Set the technical strategy for the team over a year-long time horizon and connect technical direction to critical, business-impacting projects. Collaborate closely with product, infrastructure, and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) teams. Design and build components of a scalable datastore platform supporting multi-region, horizontally scalable, globally available, and high-performance database solutions. Develop control planes for managing and providing self-service access to hundreds of databases at scale. Automate database operations including schema and data migrations, disaster recovery, sharding, and performance tuning. Partner with product management, design, and analytics throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure database solutions are technically sustainable and that risks and trade-offs are understood and managed. Define and advocate for technical solutions and operational processes that increase the effectiveness of the engineering team. Own team operations and availability by establishing appropriate monitoring, triage rotations, playbooks, policies, testing, alerting, and on-call practices. Establish code review and system design standards that promote quality and ownership. Advocate for engineering standards and technical practices through technical writing and tech talks. Provide feedback, guidance, and technical mentorship to help develop engineering talent. Contribute to major features, system components, and the deprecation of existing functionality through clear technical and execution plans. ## 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 developing highly available distributed systems. Experience with technologies such as AWS, MySQL, Spark, and Kubernetes. 5+ years of hands-on database experience with relational and/or distributed SQL systems. Deep knowledge of database technologies such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, TiDB, or Vitess. Strong understanding of database fundamentals, including: Schema design Query optimization Database scaling Partitioning Sharding Performance tuning Data integrity Efficient data access patterns Experience building and operating databases in cloud environments. Expertise in database benchmarking, load testing, and capacity planning. Familiarity with database connection poolers and proxies such as ProxySQL, RDS Proxy, and PgBouncer. Experience defining technical and execution plans for major features, system components, or functionality deprecation. Ability to write high-quality, maintainable code that is easy for others to understand and use. Ability to work effectively in ambiguous environments and understand systems from low-level language implementation through large-scale architecture. Demonstrated ability to gather and incorporate feedback from engineering and cross-functional peers. Strong written and verbal communication skills for collaboration with a global engineering organization. Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience. ## Technical Environment Languages: Python, Kotlin Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, TiDB, Vitess, DynamoDB, Redis Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS, Kubernetes Data & Processing: Spark Database Infrastructure: ProxySQL, RDS Proxy, PgBouncer Architecture: Distributed systems, multi-region systems, horizontally scalable systems, globally available infrastructure, OLTP storage platforms Database Operations: Schema/data migrations, disaster recovery, sharding, performance tuning, benchmarking, load testing, capacity planning ## Work Environment Affirm is a remote-first company. The majority of roles are remote, and employees can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Employees in proximal roles may work remotely with occasional requirements to work from an assigned Affirm office, while a limited number of roles remain office-based. This position is listed as Remote – Escondido, CA, US. ## Compensation & Benefits USA base pay range: California, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut: $230,000–$290,000 per year All other U.S. states: $204,000–$264,000 per year This position is classified as Base Pay Grade P and Equity Grade 13. Employees new to Affirm typically enter at the start of the applicable pay range. Compensation is based on factors including location, experience, and job-related skills. The total compensation package may include: Equity rewards Monthly health, wellness, and technology spending stipends 100% subsidized medical coverage Dental coverage Vision coverage for employees and dependents ## About Affirm Affirm is focused on making credit more honest and friendly by giving consumers flexible ways to buy now and pay later without hidden fees or compounding interest.