Engineering Lead, KYC
Engineering Manager · Lead · Full Time
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Role
What you'll do.
Engineering Lead role at Airwallex focusing on KYC and operational efficiency automation. You'll lead development of AI-driven risk detection systems, user onboarding automation, and scalable tools to optimize internal operations while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-growing fintech environment.
Responsibilities
- System Architecture & Development: Design, build, and maintain scalable automation tools and systems that improve internal operational efficiency and customer onboarding experience
- AI & Risk Detection Solutions: Develop and implement AI and data-driven solutions to predict user risks and prevent fraudulent/malicious activities
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with stakeholders including product managers, operations, compliance, and other engineering teams to define requirements and deliver impactful solutions
- Code Quality & Architecture: Participate in architectural discussions and code reviews, contributing to high-quality engineering standards across the team
- System Optimization: Continuously improve system reliability, performance, and scalability of automation and workflow systems
- Technical Leadership & Mentoring: Serve as a technical role model for junior team members and support their technical growth and development
- Process Automation: Build automated workflows for user onboarding, registration approval, and internal operational processes
- Risk Mitigation Systems: Implement systems to identify, predict, and block malicious users and fraudulent activities
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Programming Languages
Strong proficiency in Kotlin, Java, React, and TypeScript for full-stack development
Backend Development
Solid experience in building scalable backend systems and APIs
Automation Systems
Hands-on experience in building scalable, robust automation or workflow systems
Cloud Platforms
Familiarity with AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipeline tools
AI/ML Experience
Experience applying AI or machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems, especially in automation or risk detection
System Design
Ability to design and implement scalable, distributed systems for financial applications
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field
Experience
Software Engineering
Minimum 5+ years of software engineering experience with focus on backend or frontend development
Leadership Experience
At least 1+ year of experience leading or mentoring engineers, ideally as a team lead or project lead
Fintech Experience
Previous experience working in fintech, payments, or fast-paced startup environment preferred
Business Process Understanding
Strong ability to quickly understand complex business processes and propose effective technical solutions
Compliance Knowledge
Familiarity with compliance, risk control, or onboarding related business domains is a plus
Skills
Required
Kotlin/Java Development
Proficiency in backend development using Kotlin and Java for scalable financial systems
React/TypeScript
Frontend development skills for building internal tools and user interfaces
System Architecture
Ability to design and implement scalable automation and workflow systems
Cross-functional Collaboration
Excellent communication skills and ability to work with diverse stakeholders
Problem Solving
Strong analytical skills to understand complex business processes and propose technical solutions
Leadership Mindset
Self-driven and proactive in identifying problems and driving improvements
Preferred
Machine Learning
Nice to haveExperience with AI/ML techniques for automation and risk detection scenarios
Cloud Infrastructure
Nice to haveHands-on experience with AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, and containerization
Fintech Domain Knowledge
Nice to haveUnderstanding of financial services, payments, and regulatory compliance
Team Leadership
Nice to haveExperience mentoring and guiding junior engineers in technical capacity
DevOps Practices
Nice to haveFamiliarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment processes
Risk Management
Nice to haveKnowledge of fraud detection, risk assessment, and security best practices
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Base·SGD 120,000 – 180,000
Equity·Stock options
Benefits
Global Exposure
Work with international teams across 26 offices worldwide in a rapidly growing fintech unicorn
Career Growth
Accelerated learning opportunities and true ownership in a high-growth environment
Equity Participation
Stock options in a US$8 billion valued company backed by world-leading investors
Innovation Culture
Work on cutting-edge fintech solutions with AI and automation technologies
Diverse Environment
Equal opportunity employer with commitment to diversity and inclusion
Technical Leadership
Opportunities to mentor and lead technical teams in a scaling organization
Singapore Location
Based in Singapore, a major fintech hub in Asia-Pacific region
Process
Interview steps.
- 01
Application Review
Initial screening of resume and technical background focusing on leadership experience and technical skills
- 02
Phone/Video Screen
30-45 minute conversation with hiring manager about experience, motivation, and cultural fit
- 03
Technical Assessment
Coding challenge or take-home assignment focusing on system design and automation scenarios
- 04
Technical Interview
Deep dive into technical experience, architecture discussions, and problem-solving approach
- 05
Leadership Interview
Discussion of leadership philosophy, mentoring experience, and team collaboration scenarios
- 06
Final Round
On-site or video interview with senior leadership and team members, including system design discussion
- 07
Reference Check
Verification of previous work experience and leadership capabilities
Full posting
Original listing.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 200,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.
Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,000 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$8 billion and backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, Robinhood Ventures, Sequoia, Salesforce Ventures, DST Global, and Lone Pine Capital, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.
Attributes We Value
We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.
You're humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.
About the team
The Ops Efficiency team focuses on driving operational excellence by automating and optimizing processes for Airwallex’s internal ops teams. We build tools and systems to streamline user onboarding and registration approval, predict and mitigate user risk (including blocking malicious users), and leverage AI and automation to enhance the efficiency of our internal operations.
.
What you’ll do
As an Engineering Lead in the Ops Efficiency team, you will play a key role in developing and optimizing critical systems and tools to improve user onboarding, automate manual operations, and enhance risk detection. You will work closely with product, operations, and engineering peers to deliver impactful technical solutions at scale. We are looking for someone with the potential to mentor and guide others as the team grows.
This role is based in "Singapore".
Responsibilities:
1. Design, build, and maintain scalable automation tools and systems that improve internal operational efficiency and customer onboarding experience.
2. Develop and implement AI and data-driven solutions to predict user risks and prevent fraudulent/malicious activities.
3. Collaborate with stakeholders (product managers, operations, compliance, and other engineering teams) to define requirements and deliver impactful solutions.
4. Participate in architectural discussions and code reviews, contributing to high-quality engineering standards.
5. Continuously improve system reliability, performance, and scalability.
6. Serve as a technical role model for junior team members and support their technical growth when needed.
Who you are
We're looking for people who meet the minimum qualifications for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have, but are not mandatory.
Minimum qualifications:
1. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related fields.
2. At least 5 + years of software engineering experience.
3. Strong ability to quickly understand complex business processes and propose effective technical solutions.
4. Excellent organizational and communication skills, with proven ability to collaborate across different teams and stakeholders.
5. Solid software engineering skills, with experience in backend or frontend development using Kotlin/Java/React/Type script.
6. Hands-on experience in building scalable, robust automation or workflow systems.
7. Self-driven and proactive in identifying problems and driving improvements.
Preferred qualifications:
1. At least 1+ year of experience leading or mentoring engineers, ideally as a team lead or project lead.
2. Experience applying AI or machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems, especially in automation or risk detection scenarios.
3. Familiarity with commonly used automation and workflow tools in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines).
4. Experience mentoring or guiding junior engineers in a technical capacity.
5. Previous experience working in fintech, payments, or a fast-paced startup environment.
6. Familiarity with compliance, risk control, or onboarding related business domains is a plus.
Applicant Safety Policy: Fraud and Third-Party Recruiters
To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.
Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.
Equal opportunity
Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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