Senior Software Engineer, Backend (ML Training and Serving)
About The Position
Affirm is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join its Machine Learning Training & Serving engineering team. The team builds and operates critical infrastructure that enables models to be trained and served across Affirm. The role sits at the intersection of distributed systems, ML infrastructure, and platform engineering, with an emphasis on reliable shared platforms, developer velocity, ownership, technical judgment, and execution. The engineer will own and deliver quarterly team goals, guide engineers through ambiguous problems, and support them throughout delivery. They will collaborate with product management, design, and analytics during product development, identify and address issues, support operational availability and on-call efforts, promote quality and ownership through standards and technical communication, and help develop team talent.
Requirements
- At least 4 years of experience designing, developing, and launching backend systems at scale using languages such as Python or Kotlin.
- Track record of developing highly available distributed systems using technologies such as AWS, MySQL, and Kubernetes.
- Experience defining a technical plan for delivering a significant feature or system component with an elegant, simple, and extensible design.
- Ability to write high-quality code that is easily understood and used by others.
- Proficiency making significant changes in a large codebase, supported by tools and practices that enable safe changes.
- Demonstrated ownership of professional growth, including proactively seeking feedback from teammates, managers, and stakeholders.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with a global engineering team.
- Equivalent practical experience or a bachelor's degree in a related field.
Nice To Haves
- Experience training and deploying models for production.
Responsibilities
- Own and deliver quarterly goals for the team, leading engineers through ambiguity to solve open-ended problems and supporting them throughout delivery.
- Collaborate with product management, design, and analytics throughout product development, including ideation, articulating technical constraints, and making decisions that account for risks and trade-offs.
- Proactively identify project, process, technology, or business issues, advocate for them, and lead efforts to resolve them.
- Support the operation and availability of team artifacts by creating and monitoring metrics, escalating when needed, and participating in keep-the-lights-on and on-call efforts.
- Foster quality and ownership by setting or improving team code review and design standards, and advocating for standards beyond the team through writing and tech talks.
- Develop team talent by providing feedback and guidance and leading by example.
Benefits
- 100% subsidized medical coverage for employees and their dependents.
- Dental and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.
- Monthly stipends for technology setup and health and wellness options.
- Flexible time off and generous holiday calendars.
- Employee stock purchase plan allowing employees to buy Affirm stock at a discount.
- Equity rewards may be included in total compensation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
