Principal Software Engineer, New Product (Fintech)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer (Backend/Fintech): Leading architectural design for core backend systems of a new consumer credit product with an accent on distributed, event-driven services and AI-native development. Focus on building zero-to-one scalable solutions, optimizing engineering velocity, and integrating AI tools to accelerate development impact.

Location: Must be based in the United States. Remote available, with regular on-site collaboration (3 days per quarter).

Salary: $186,100 — $257,500 USD (Base)

Company

hirify.global is an AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit.

What you will do

• Set technical direction and lead architectural design for core backend systems of a new consumer credit product.
• Develop reliable, observable, and scalable distributed event-driven services.
• Drive zero-to-one product development, translating ambiguous goals into high-impact technical solutions.
• Champion engineering quality and velocity by establishing patterns and tooling across the stack.
• Integrate AI tools into development workflows to reduce friction and accelerate impact.
• Mentor high-performing engineers and influence product strategy through technical insights.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience building production backend systems for consumer-scale applications.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems and event-driven architectures (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis, SQS).
• Proficiency in an OOP language such as Java, Kotlin, C#, Python, or Ruby.
• Proven track record of leading complex zero-to-one product development in ambiguous environments.
• Experience with observability, metrics, logs, and operational excellence.
• Must be based in the United States.

Nice to have

• Experience in B2C fintech or high-scale consumer technology companies.
• Background in payments, credit, or transactional systems with high reliability requirements.
• Experience with Protobuf, Avro, and safe data migrations in distributed systems.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for building products for underserved users.
• Interest in agentic or AI-assisted systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary, target bonuses, and equity compensation.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with HSA contributions.
• Generous 401(k) plan with a match of $2 for every $1 contributed (up to $15,000/year).
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and disability insurance.
• Generous holiday, vacation, sick, and parental leave programs.
• Annual wellness, technology, and ergonomic reimbursement programs.