Scale Engineer

Software Engineering Intern, Backend

Backend Engineer · Intern · Internship

New York, NY (HQ)USD 13k – 13k6mo ago
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Role

What you'll do.

Ramp seeks a Backend Engineering Intern (12-16 week co-op) to build performant, scalable systems powering fintech infrastructure managing billions in corporate spend. You'll own meaningful projects from design through production launch, solving challenges across payments, risk detection, fraud prevention, and financial data systems. This is an ideal opportunity for computer science students with strong fundamentals and product-shipped experience to make consequential contributions in a fast-paced, high-agency engineering environment.

Responsibilities

  • Build Scalable Backend Systems: Design and implement performant, reliable, and scalable backend systems that power Ramp's core fintech products, handling transaction processing and financial data at enterprise scale.
  • Own End-to-End Project Delivery: Take full ownership of meaningful backend engineering projects from initial technical design through successful production launch, working independently with guidance from senior engineers.
  • Solve Complex Financial Infrastructure Challenges: Contribute to solving critical backend problems across payments processing, risk detection and fraud prevention, financial data pipelines, and AI-powered features that impact billions in corporate spend.
  • Cross-Functional Problem Solving: Collaborate with product, business, and data teams to translate ambiguous requirements and business needs into robust technical backend solutions that improve customer value.
  • Infrastructure and Systems Contribution: Participate in building and improving engineering infrastructure, deployment pipelines, monitoring systems, and developer tools that enable Ramp to scale efficiently.

Qualifications

What we look for.

Technical

  • Computer Science Fundamentals

    Strong grasp of core computer science concepts including data structures, algorithms, system design principles, and understanding of performance optimization and scalability.

  • Programming Fundamentals

    Proficiency in at least one programming language with ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code following software engineering best practices.

  • Quick Learning and Ownership

    Demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire new technologies and frameworks, take ownership of technical problems, and thrive in fast-paced, high-urgency engineering environments.

Education

  • Computer Science or Related Technical Field

    Currently pursuing a B.S. degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline.

  • Expected Graduation Timeline

    Expected graduation date of December 2027 or later, ensuring availability for 12-16 week internship placement.

Experience

  • Product Shipping Track Record

    Demonstrated history of building and shipping high-quality software products, features, or significant technical projects that have reached users or production environments.

  • Problem Solving Orientation

    Experience translating ambiguous product and business problems into clear engineering solutions, showing ability to work backwards from requirements to implementation.

Skills

Required

  • Backend Development

    Core backend engineering competency with experience building server-side applications, APIs, and services that handle business logic and data persistence.

  • Data Structures and Algorithms

    Solid understanding of fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, hash tables) and algorithmic problem-solving to optimize backend system performance.

  • System Design Thinking

    Ability to think about scalability, reliability, and maintainability when designing backend systems, considering tradeoffs in architecture decisions.

  • SQL and Database Concepts

    Working knowledge of relational database design, SQL query optimization, and ability to design efficient database schemas for transactional systems.

Preferred

  • Python Backend Development

    Nice to have

    Experience building backend systems with Python, including writing production-ready server-side code and experience with Python web frameworks.

  • Flask or FastAPI Framework Experience

    Nice to have

    Familiarity with lightweight Python web frameworks for building RESTful APIs and backend services, or willingness to quickly learn these tools.

  • PostgreSQL Database Experience

    Nice to have

    Practical experience designing and querying PostgreSQL databases, understanding transaction semantics, and optimizing complex SQL queries.

  • AWS Cloud Services

    Nice to have

    Hands-on experience deploying applications on Amazon Web Services, including compute, storage, and networking services used in modern fintech systems.

  • Distributed Systems Concepts

    Nice to have

    Understanding of asynchronous task processing, message queues, workflow orchestration tools like Temporal, and building resilient distributed backend systems.

  • Fintech and Payments Domain Knowledge

    Nice to have

    Prior experience or demonstrated interest in financial technology, payment processing systems, risk management, or fraud detection domains.

  • AI and Machine Learning Integration

    Nice to have

    Interest in or exposure to building backend systems that integrate machine learning models and AI features for intelligent financial decisions.

Tech stack

Languages

PythonElixir

Frameworks

FlaskFastAPI

Databases

PostgreSQL

Tools

AWS (Amazon Web Services)TemporalGit and Version Control

Other

RESTful API DesignMicroservices ArchitectureEvent-Driven ArchitectureCI/CD and DevOps Practices

Compensation

Pay and benefits.

Base·USD 12,500 – 12,500

Benefits

  • Apple MacBook

    High-performance laptop provided to all interns for backend development work and access to engineering tools and systems.

  • Catered Meals

    Catered lunches and dinners provided daily Monday through Friday at Ramp's NYC office, supporting focus on technical work and team collaboration.

  • Housing Stipend

    Additional monthly housing allowance to support relocation or accommodation in NYC during the 12-16 week internship program.

  • Flexible PTO

    Flexible paid time off policy available to interns, supporting work-life balance and personal priorities during the internship.

  • Health and Wellness Stipend

    Annual stipend for personal health and wellness expenses including fitness, mental health services, and wellness activities.

  • Office Equipment Allowance

    Centralized home-office equipment ordering system for interns requiring additional peripherals or ergonomic setup for remote work days.

  • In-Office Perks

    Access to office snacks, beverages, and team spaces at Ramp's NYC headquarters, creating a collaborative engineering environment.

Process

Interview steps.

  1. 01

    Initial Application Review

    Ramp reviews your resume, GitHub profile, and any submitted project portfolio to assess technical fundamentals and product-shipped experience.

  2. 02

    Technical Phone Screen

    Initial conversation with a backend engineer covering computer science fundamentals, problem-solving approach, and overview of previous projects built and shipped.

  3. 03

    Coding Assessment

    Technical coding interview focusing on data structures, algorithms, backend system design, and your approach to solving production-relevant engineering problems.

  4. 04

    System Design Conversation

    Discussion of how you would design scalable backend systems, considering tradeoffs in architecture, database design, and operational concerns relevant to fintech.

  5. 05

    Behavioral and Values Alignment

    Conversation with team members exploring your ownership mentality, learning speed, collaboration style, and alignment with Ramp's engineering culture of high agency and urgency.

  6. 06

    Offer Discussion

    Discussion of internship details including start date, 12-week or 16-week duration, compensation package, and onboarding logistics for NYC or remote placement.

Full posting

Original listing.

About Ramp

Ramp is building the smart infrastructure for finance teams, embedded in the transaction flow of every dollar a business spends. We automate how over $200B in annualized spend flows in and out of 70,000+ companies: authorizing payments, flagging risk, categorizing spend, and closing books.

The problems are high-stakes, data-dense, and unforgiving.

We hire people with high agency and high urgency. We look for slope over intercept. We care less about where you trained and more about what you’ve built. At Ramp, everyone is a builder who owns problems end to end and makes consequential decisions that shape the outcome.

The median Ramp customer saves 5% and grows revenue 16% in their first year – far in excess of businesses operating without Ramp. We believe every ambitious company deserves the same.

If you want to build systems that directly shape how companies move and manage billions, Ramp is the place to do it.

Explore our Engineering Blog & Emerging Talent Blog to learn more about how we build at Ramp and what it’s like to start your career here.

About the Role

Ramp is, at its core, an engineering company. We’re looking for backend engineering interns (12 or 16-week co-ops) excited to solve challenging technical problems and ship products used by real customers.

You’ll work alongside experienced engineers and own meaningful projects from inception to production. We value strong technical fundamentals, high ownership, and people who learn quickly, whether or not they’re familiar with our stack.

What You’ll Do

  • Build performant, reliable, and scalable systems powering Ramp’s products

  • Own meaningful projects from design through launch

  • Solve problems across areas like payments, risk and fraud, financial infrastructure, data, and AI

  • Work closely with product and business teams to understand customer needs and improve our products

  • Contribute to engineering tools and systems that help Ramp scale

What You’ll Need

  • Currently pursuing a B.S. or higher in Computer Science or a related technical field, graduating December 2027 or later

  • Strong computer science and programming fundamentals

  • Track record of building and shipping high-quality products, features, or projects

  • Ability to turn ambiguous product and business problems into engineering solutions

  • Desire to learn quickly, take ownership, and work in a fast-paced environment

Nice to Haves

  • Experience with or interest in Python and backend development

  • Familiarity with or desire to learn our stack, including Flask, PostgreSQL, Temporal, Elixir, and AWS

  • Interest in fintech, AI, or building products at scale

Compensation

The monthly rate for this internship is $12,500 + a housing stipend.

Ramp Benefits

  • Apple MacBook

  • Catered lunches and dinners in our NYC office Monday through Friday

 

Benefits available to all full-time Ramp employees (Global)

  • Flexible PTO

  • Centralized home-office equipment ordering

  • Health and wellness stipend

  • Budget for intra-office travel

  • Weekly coffee stipend

United States

  • 100% medical, dental & vision insurance coverage for you, with partial coverage for dependents

  • One Medical annual membership

  • 401(k), including employer match on contributions made while employed by Ramp

  • Fertility HRA (up to $10,000 per year)

  • Parental leave: up to 16 weeks (birthing + bonding) or 8 weeks (bonding only) at 100% pay

  • Pet insurance

  • In-office perks: lunch, snacks, drinks, and more

  • Relocation expense coverage to NYC or SF (if needed)

Canada

  • Group medical, dental, and vision coverage through Sun Life

  • Life, AD&D, and disability coverage

  • Fertility drug coverage (up to $4,000 lifetime)

  • Group Retirement Plan with employer match (RRSP + DPSP)

  • Parental leave: up to 16 weeks (birthing + bonding) or 8 weeks (bonding only) at 100% pay, with additional time available at reduced pay

  • Employee Assistance Program and virtual care through Lumino Health

United Kingdom

  • Private medical insurance through Freedom Elite

  • Virtual GP and at-home care via eMed x Livi

  • Workplace pension through Penfold, with salary sacrifice option

  • Parental leave: up to 16 weeks (birthing + bonding) or 8 weeks (bonding only) at 100% pay with additional time available at reduced pay

Referral Instructions

If you are being referred for the role, please contact that person to apply on your behalf.

 

Other notices

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

 

Beware of recruiting scams: Ramp will only contact you through official @Ramp.com email addresses and will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information during the hiring process.

 

Ramp Applicant Privacy Notice

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