Staff Software Engineer

PayPal • San Jose, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join PayPal's AI Platform team, where we build and maintain the foundational infrastructure that powers machine learning across all PayPal domains. Our team operates the Simulation platform for MDLC, enabling data scientists and engineers company-wide to develop, test, and deploy ML models that impact millions of transactions daily. You'll work at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and real-world financial applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems at scale. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll drive architecture decisions, coordinate engineering activities, and work hands-on with modern technologies including Java/Spring, GCP, Kubernetes, and Big Data frameworks. This role offers the opportunity to gain end-to-end ML platform experience while directly supporting PayPal's AI-driven innovation.

Requirements

• 5+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

• Excellent problem-solving skills and clear communication abilities to work effectively in an agile/scrum team environment.
• Strong proficiency in Java development with focus on backend technologies and hands-on experience with Spring framework.
• Familiarity with Big Data technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, HBase, Iceberg, or DeltaLake.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Working knowledge of GCP stack, including Bigtable, BigQuery, and GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine).
• Solid understanding of Linux systems and Bash scripting for automation and platform operations.
• Experience building or supporting ML/AI platforms or data pipelines.
• Knowledge of ML model lifecycle management and MLOps practices.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a project or system leader, coordinating the activities of other engineers on the project or within the system
• Determines the technical tasks that other engineers will follow
• Actions result in the achievement of customer, operational, program or service objectives
• Proactively improves existing structures & processes
• Exercises judgement in reconciling diverse and competing priorities (time, quality, complexity risk) to identify optimal solutions to problems
• Notices patterns and condenses repetition into densely meaningful generalized solutions
• Collaborates with management to set/improve standards for engineering rigor
• Trusted to represent PayPal, Inc to the outside world via interactions with partners, customers, or industry organizations
• Ensure the stability and reliability of the platform on a daily basis to meet business requirements and SLAs.
• Develop new platform features and capabilities to support emerging use cases based on requirements from product teams and data scientists.
• Respond promptly to platform issues as L3 support, providing expert troubleshooting and resolution for complex technical problems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on key project delivery, including ML model deployment infrastructure and platform optimization initiatives.
• Mentor and guide other engineers in best practices for ML platform development and operations.

Benefits

• At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset-you. That’s why we offer comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeing—physical, emotional, and financial—delivering meaningful value where it matters most.
• We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level