Software Engineer, Backend

Backend Engineer · Mid · Full Time

San Francisco HQUSD 176k – 244k3mo ago
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Opens Plaid's application page

Role

What you'll do.

Plaid is seeking a Backend Software Engineer to design and build scalable systems that power financial data connectivity. The role involves developing robust APIs and backend services that enable millions of users to connect and manage their financial accounts across thousands of institutions.

Responsibilities

  • System Design & Development: Build and maintain scalable, reliable backend systems and APIs that power Plaid's financial connectivity products, ensuring high performance and reliability at scale.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, designers, and engineering teams to define and deliver innovative features that solve complex financial data integration challenges.
  • Code Quality & Engineering Standards: Write clean, efficient, and thoroughly tested code. Participate in code reviews and contribute to maintaining high engineering standards across the team.
  • Performance Optimization: Build automated tests, monitor system performance, and proactively troubleshoot issues in production environments to ensure optimal system reliability.
  • Technical Innovation: Contribute to technical design discussions, share best practices, and continuously improve Plaid's engineering processes and technological capabilities.

Qualifications

What we look for.

Technical

  • Backend Development

    Strong skills in designing and implementing scalable backend systems and APIs

  • System Architecture

    Experience in creating reliable, high-performance technical solutions for complex financial data integration

Education

  • Technical Degree

    Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Experience

  • Professional Experience

    1-4 years of software engineering experience post-internship, with demonstrated ability to ship reliable systems at scale

Skills

Required

  • Problem Solving

    Ability to transform complex ideas into practical, maintainable technical solutions

  • Collaboration

    Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively in a fast-paced, innovative environment

Preferred

  • Financial Technology Experience

    Nice to have

    Background or interest in fintech and financial data integration platforms

Tech stack

Languages

PythonGo

Frameworks

gRPC

Databases

PostgreSQL

Tools

KubernetesDocker

Other

API Design

Compensation

Pay and benefits.

Base·USD 176,400 – 243,600

Equity·Stock options

Benefits

  • Equity Compensation

    Stock options providing potential additional financial upside

  • Diversity & Inclusion

    Committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that values unique perspectives

  • Professional Growth

    Opportunities for rapid career development and continuous learning in a dynamic fintech environment

Process

Interview steps.

  1. 01

    Initial Screening

    Phone or video call with recruiting team to discuss background and role fit

  2. 02

    Technical Assessment

    Online coding challenge or take-home project to evaluate technical skills

  3. 03

    Technical Interviews

    Multiple rounds of interviews focusing on system design, coding skills, and problem-solving abilities

  4. 04

    Culture & Team Fit

    Final interviews to assess collaboration skills and alignment with Plaid's mission and values

Full posting

Original listing.

We believe that the way people interact with their finances will drastically improve in the next few years. We’re dedicated to empowering this transformation by building the tools and experiences that thousands of developers use to create their own products. Plaid powers the tools millions of people rely on to live a healthier financial life. We work with thousands of companies like Venmo, SoFi, several of the Fortune 500, and many of the largest banks to make it easy for people to connect their financial accounts to the apps and services they want to use. Plaid’s network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, UK and Europe. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London and Amsterdam.

Plaid’s mission is to unlock financial freedom for everyone by making money movement and access to financial data simple and secure. As a Software Engineer, you will design and build the systems that power how millions of people connect to their finances. You will work across the stack, from reliable backend services and APIs to intuitive applications that bring those systems to life. You will collaborate with engineers, product managers, and designers to ship products that make financial services more accessible and transparent. At Plaid, engineers take ownership early, grow quickly, and see their work reach millions of users.

Responsibilities:

  • System Design & Development: Build and maintain scalable, reliable backend or fullstack systems and APIs that power Plaid’s products.

  • Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define and deliver features that solve real customer problems.

  • Code Quality: Write clean, efficient, and well-tested code. Participate in reviews to maintain high engineering standards.

  • Testing & Debugging: Build automated tests, monitor system performance, and troubleshoot issues in production environments.

  • Continuous Improvement: Contribute to technical design discussions, share best practices, and help improve how we build at Plaid.

Qualifications:

  • 1-4 years of software engineering experience (post-internship).

  • Proven ability to ship reliable systems or features at scale.

  • Strong problem-solving skills. You turn ideas into practical, maintainable solutions.

  • High ownership. You are excited to roll up your sleeves and figure things out that don’t have precedent at Plaid.

  • Collaborative mindset. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy working with others to deliver results.

  • Growth oriented. You seek feedback, learn quickly, and take pride in improving your craft.

Our mission at Plaid is to unlock financial freedom for everyone. To support that mission, we seek to build a diverse team of driven individuals who care deeply about making the financial ecosystem more equitable. We recognize that strong qualifications can come from both prior work experiences and lived experiences. We encourage you to apply to a role even if your experience doesn't fully match the job description. We are always looking for team members that will bring something unique to Plaid!

Plaid is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion or religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, military or veteran status, disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Plaid is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance with your application or interviews due to a disability, please let us know at [email protected].

Please review our Candidate Privacy Notice here.

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