Senior Software Engineer - Data Infrastructure

Plaid2 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 180,000 – 250,000

Level

Senior

Role

Senior Software Engineer

Posted

Mar 3, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Plaid is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join their Data Infrastructure team, focusing on building and scaling robust data systems that power financial technology innovations. The ideal candidate will be a domain expert in data warehousing, streaming technologies, and infrastructure platforms, capable of developing scalable solutions that enable data-driven decision-making across the organization.

What you'll do

Technical Roadmap Development: Contribute to long-term technical roadmaps for data-driven and machine learning initiatives at Plaid

Infrastructure Project Leadership: Lead key data infrastructure projects including ML development paths, streaming solutions, ETL pipeline infrastructure, and data warehouse/lakehouse capabilities

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with stakeholders across engineering, product, and business functions to define technical roadmaps and system abstractions

Platform Optimization: Debug, troubleshoot, and reduce operational burden for the Data Platform while ensuring performance and cost efficiency

Team Development: Mentor junior engineers, provide technical leadership, and contribute to team growth through code reviews and technical guidance

What we look for

Technical

Data Infrastructure ExpertiseDeep understanding of ML or Data Infrastructure systems, including Feature Stores, Data Warehouses, Apache Spark, Streaming Infrastructure, and Workflow Orchestration

System DesignProficiency in coding, testing, and designing reliable and scalable software solutions

Education

Degree PreferenceBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Experience

Professional Experience5+ years of software engineering experience, with significant track record in Data Infrastructure or Platform domains

Leadership ExperienceProven ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership

Skills

Required skills

Data InfrastructureExpertise in data warehousing, lakehouse architectures, and large-scale data systems

ProgrammingStrong software engineering skills with emphasis on scalable and performant code

CollaborationExcellent cross-functional communication and project management capabilities

Nice to have

Tools ExperienceFamiliarity with Databricks, Airflow, AWS EMR, and similar data engineering tools

Cloud PlatformsExperience with cloud infrastructure and distributed computing environments

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 180,000 – 250,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Health Insurance

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Equity Compensation

Stock options and potential equity grants

Professional Development

Opportunities for continuous learning and career growth

Diversity & Inclusion

Commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workplace

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiting team to discuss background and role fit
2
Technical Assessment — Online coding challenge or take-home project focusing on data infrastructure skills
3
Technical Interviews — Multiple rounds of interviews with senior engineering team, covering system design, technical depth, and problem-solving
4
Leadership and Cultural Fit Interview — Discussion with potential team members and leadership to assess collaboration and cultural alignment
5
Final Review — Comprehensive evaluation of interview performance and potential team contribution