Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Plaid1 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco HQ

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 190,800 – 286,800

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

May 4, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Plaid is seeking a Senior Backend Software Engineer to design and build scalable financial data infrastructure that powers connections between thousands of financial institutions and innovative applications. The ideal candidate will drive technical excellence, develop high-performance backend services, and contribute to Plaid's mission of unlocking financial freedom through robust and secure technology solutions.

What you'll do

Backend Service Development: Design and maintain high-performance, reliable, and scalable backend services with a focus on architectural excellence and system design

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, designers, and other engineering teams to define and implement innovative features that meet product and customer needs

Code Quality and Maintenance: Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code while developing comprehensive automated testing strategies to ensure system reliability

Technical Leadership: Provide technical mentorship, review code changes, and help maintain high technical standards across the engineering team

What we look for

Technical

Database ExperienceProven experience with MySQL or other relational database systems

Microservices ArchitectureStrong background in designing and implementing microservices-based architectures

System DesignAdvanced skills in system design, performance optimization, and scalable architecture

Education

Academic BackgroundBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered

Experience

Professional ExperienceMinimum of 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a proven track record of successful project deliveries

Leadership ExperienceDemonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance

Skills

Required skills

Backend DevelopmentAdvanced proficiency in building scalable backend services

Cross-Functional CollaborationStrong communication and project management skills

Nice to have

Financial Technology ExperiencePrior experience in fintech or financial data integration platforms

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 190,800 – 286,800 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options available as part of total compensation package

Diversity and Inclusion

Commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workplace

Equal Opportunity

Non-discriminatory hiring practices with focus on equitable opportunities

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Review of resume and initial qualification assessment
2
Technical Phone Screen — Preliminary technical interview to evaluate coding skills and system design knowledge
3
Onsite/Virtual Interviews — Multiple rounds of technical interviews including coding challenges, system design, and behavioral assessments
4
Final Interview — Meeting with senior leadership to assess cultural fit and overall team alignment