Senior Developer Relations Engineer

Plaid2 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco HQ

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 156,000 – 194,400

Level

Senior

Role

Developer Relations Engineer

Posted

Jul 10, 2026

Full TimeRemoteSenior

The role

Summary

Senior Developer Relations Engineer at Plaid is a highly technical, customer-facing role focused on creating best-in-class developer experiences for financial services integrations. The role combines technical expertise with developer advocacy, requiring 5+ years in Developer Relations or equivalent experience with demonstrated proficiency in both backend and frontend languages. Success in this position means architecting comprehensive documentation, building sample applications, and serving as the developer's advocate to drive API adoption across thousands of fintech companies and financial institutions globally.

What you'll do

Create and Evolve Developer Documentation: Write, maintain, and improve comprehensive API documentation for Plaid's commercially available products. Distill complex financial services concepts and technical implementations into clear, accessible explanations that serve developers with varying levels of expertise. Identify documentation gaps and opportunities, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and usability across all developer-facing resources.

Design and Build Sample Applications and Technical Demos: Architect and develop sample applications, interactive demos, and tutorial videos that showcase integration patterns and best practices for Plaid's APIs. Create hands-on resources that demonstrate real-world use cases and accelerate developer onboarding across multiple programming languages and platforms.

Maintain Developer-Facing Resources and Tools: Improve and sustain critical developer infrastructure including Postman collections, documentation websites, code repositories, and other technical assets. Ensure all resources remain current, functional, and aligned with product updates and industry best practices.

Serve as Developer Advocate and Community Voice: Act as the primary advocate for the developer community, gathering feedback and translating external developer needs into actionable insights for Product, Engineering, and Design teams. Build relationships within the developer ecosystem and champion developer-centric improvements to products and services.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Engagement: Partner with Product, Engineering, Design, and Marketing teams to deliver world-class developer experiences at scale. Collaborate on developer engagement initiatives, activation programs, and onboarding strategies that attract and retain developers integrating with Plaid's API platform.

What we look for

Technical

Proficiency in Multiple Programming LanguagesDemonstrated ability to write clear, idiomatic code in at least one widely used backend language (such as Python, Java, Go, or Node.js) and one frontend language (such as JavaScript, React, or TypeScript). Code examples and sample applications must reflect production-quality standards.

Technical Documentation ExpertiseProven experience writing high-quality developer documentation from scratch, including API references, integration guides, code examples, and troubleshooting resources. Track record of identifying documentation gaps and implementing comprehensive improvements to existing technical content.

Sample Application and Demo DevelopmentExperience building functional sample applications and technical demonstrations that effectively showcase API capabilities and integration patterns. Ability to create compelling, runnable examples across multiple frameworks and technology stacks.

Technology Learning and CommunicationCapability to rapidly learn new technologies, frameworks, and financial services concepts, then communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse developer audiences. Proficiency with generative AI tools to enhance productivity while maintaining quality standards for external-facing content.

Education

Computer Science or Related FieldBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent professional experience and demonstrated technical competency can substitute for formal education.

Experience

Developer Relations or Advocacy Experience5+ years of professional experience in Developer Relations, Developer Advocacy, or equivalent roles working directly with developer communities and API ecosystems.

Technical Role BackgroundCombination of 2+ years in Developer Relations with 3+ years in related technical roles such as Software Engineering, Solutions Engineering, Implementation, or Sales Engineering. Total professional experience should demonstrate deep technical credibility and understanding of developer workflows.

API Integration ExperienceHands-on experience building and integrating with APIs, particularly B2B APIs. Understanding of REST principles, authentication flows, error handling, and common integration challenges that developers face.

Developer Empathy and CommunicationStrong track record of understanding developer pain points and perspectives, with demonstrated ability to advocate effectively for developer needs across technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Required skills

Backend Programming LanguagesProficiency in Python, Java, Go, Node.js, or similar widely-used backend languages with ability to write production-quality, idiomatic code.

Frontend Programming LanguagesExpertise in JavaScript, React, TypeScript, or similar frontend technologies with capability to build interactive samples and web-based demos.

API DocumentationMastery of API documentation tools and practices, including markdown documentation, API reference generation, and technical writing for diverse audiences.

Technical WritingExceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible, and engaging written content for developers with varying expertise levels.

Developer Relations StrategyStrategic mindset for developer experience, including understanding of developer onboarding, activation metrics, community engagement, and advocacy programs.

Cross-Functional CommunicationStrong interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate effectively with Product, Engineering, Design, and Marketing stakeholders on developer initiatives.

Nice to have

OpenAPI SpecificationFamiliarity with OpenAPI (formerly Swagger) specification and tooling for API documentation and contract generation.

Web and Mobile DevelopmentExperience with full-stack web development or mobile application development, providing deeper understanding of real-world integration scenarios.

B2B API Ecosystem ExperienceBackground building or growing developer communities around B2B APIs, including experience with API platforms and ecosystem development.

Financial Services Domain KnowledgeFamiliarity with fintech, banking APIs, financial data standards, or compliance considerations in financial services integration.

Content Creation Across FormatsDemonstrated experience creating technical content in multiple formats including slide presentations, architectural diagrams, web applications, tutorial videos, and interactive demos.

Public Speaking and Presentation SkillsProven ability to present technical content effectively at conferences, webinars, meetups, or internal technical forums to developer audiences.

Generative AI for ContentExperience leveraging LLMs and generative AI tools to enhance documentation workflows while maintaining rigorous quality control for external-facing content.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 156,000 – 194,400 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Health and Wellness Coverage

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans covering employees and eligible dependents with competitive coverage levels.

Retirement Planning

401(k) retirement savings plan with potential employer matching to support long-term financial security.

Equity Compensation

Stock options as part of compensation package, offering equity upside in a high-growth fintech platform used by millions globally.

Performance-Based Incentives

Commission structures or bonus opportunities dependent on role-specific metrics and company performance.

Professional Development

Opportunities to grow technical expertise, attend industry conferences, participate in fintech and developer relations communities, and expand professional network.

Collaborative Work Environment

Access to Plaid's offices in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., and London with flexible arrangements for cross-functional collaboration.

Diversity and Inclusion Programs

Commitment to building diverse teams with support resources for underrepresented groups in technology and financial services.

Reasonable Accommodations

Plaid provides reasonable accommodations for candidates and employees with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process.

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Hiring team reviews application materials and portfolio demonstrating previous developer relations work, technical writing samples, and code examples to assess technical depth and communication clarity.
2
Phone Screen with Recruiter — Conversation to discuss career background, interest in the developer relations role at Plaid, and alignment with the team's mission and company values.
3
Technical Phone Screen — Discussion with Developer Relations Engineer or Engineering Manager covering technical background, experience building sample applications, approach to documenting complex APIs, and problem-solving approach for developer experience challenges.
4
Technical Assessment or Assignment — Take-home assignment or live exercise demonstrating capability to write clear documentation, build a sample application, or create a technical explanation. Assessment evaluates both technical execution and communication clarity.
5
Developer Relations Leadership Interview — Conversation with Developer Relations leadership covering developer advocacy philosophy, experience growing developer communities, approach to cross-functional collaboration, and vision for developer experience improvements.
6
Product and Engineering Team Discussion — Meeting with Product and/or Engineering stakeholders to discuss technical understanding of Plaid's API platform, approach to identifying documentation gaps, and ability to translate developer feedback into product insights.
7
Executive or Cross-Functional Panel — Final conversation with senior stakeholders to assess cultural fit, ability to impact developer experience at scale, and alignment with Plaid's mission to unlock financial freedom.