Staff Software Engineer - Online Storage

Plaid6 days ago

Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 180,000 – 250,000

Level

Staff

Role

Staff Software Engineer

Posted

Mar 12, 2026

Full TimeStaff

The role

Summary

Plaid is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for its Online Storage team to design, deploy, and scale the company's critical storage infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in backend systems, database performance, and infrastructure automation, with a focus on building reliable, scalable storage solutions that support Plaid's financial data platforms.

What you'll do

Storage System Architecture: Design and evolve resilient, distributed storage systems that operate reliably at scale, supporting large datasets and high-throughput workloads

Performance Optimization: Optimize query performance and infrastructure cost, diagnose complex technical issues within storage engines, and analyze internal system behavior

Infrastructure Automation: Build services and tools to improve operational automations, reduce friction for product engineers, and enable faster, more confident development workflows

Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with stakeholder teams to understand current and future storage requirements, ensuring seamless integration and minimal risk during system migrations

Technical Leadership: Navigate complex storage and infrastructure challenges, drive technical clarity, and lead critical migration efforts with a reliability-focused approach

What we look for

Technical

Backend SystemsExtensive experience with backend and platform systems development

Storage TechnologiesDeep expertise in distributed storage technologies and database performance optimization

Infrastructure ToolsProficiency with infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform and cloud platforms such as AWS

Education

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

Experience

Database ScalingProven experience deploying and orchestrating databases at enterprise scale

Storage Platform DesignDemonstrated track record of designing and evolving complex storage platforms

Skills

Required skills

Database ManagementAdvanced skills in SQL databases, with hands-on experience in TiDB, MySQL, or MongoDB

Infrastructure AutomationExpertise in building internal tooling and automation to improve system reliability and developer efficiency

Cloud InfrastructureStrong working knowledge of cloud resources and infrastructure management

Nice to have

Programming LanguagesProduction experience with Go and TypeScript

Security PracticesExperience applying security best practices in storage and infrastructure systems

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 180,000 – 250,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Health Insurance

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Equity Compensation

Competitive stock options and RSU package

Professional Development

Annual learning and conference budget, mentorship programs

Flexible Work

Remote-friendly work arrangements with potential hybrid options

401(k) Plan

Retirement savings plan with company matching

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiting team to assess background and initial fit
2
Technical Phone Interview — Deep dive into technical skills, storage system design, and problem-solving capabilities
3
Onsite/Virtual Interviews — Multiple interview rounds covering systems design, coding, architecture, and team fit
4
Final Leadership Interview — Discussion with senior technical leadership to evaluate strategic thinking and team alignment