Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Online Storage)

MySQL, Spark and Kubernetes.

You have 5+ years of hands-on Database Expertise, leveraging your deep knowledge of Relational and/or Distributed SQL such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, TiDB/Vitess to optimize database performance, ensuring data integrity, and implementing efficient data access patterns. Should possess deep understanding of Database fundamentals including schema design, query optimization, scaling, partitioning, sharding and performance tuning in multiple functional environments. Strong background and expertise in building and operating databases in cloud environments. Expertise in database benchmarking, load testing, and capacity planning. Familiarity with connection poolers and proxies such as ProxySQL, RDS Proxy, Pg Bouncer, etc.

You have experience delivering major features, system components or deprecating existing functionality in a system through the definition of a technical and execution plan. You write high quality code that is easily understood and used by others.

You thrive in ambiguity, and are comfortable moving from low level language idioms all the way to the architecture of large systems to understand how they work.

Your growth and impact trajectory demonstrates that you have mastered gathering and iterating on feedback from your engineering and cross-functional peers.

You have strong verbal and written communication skills that support effective collaboration with our global engineering team.

This position requires either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Base Pay Grade - P

Equity Grade - 13

Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.

Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)

USA base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT) per year: $230,000 - $290,000
USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $204,000 - $264,000

Skills Required
8+ years designing, developing, and launching backend systems using languages like Python or Kotlin.
Extensive track record building highly available distributed systems using AWS, MySQL, Spark, and Kubernetes.
5+ years of hands-on database expertise with Relational and/or Distributed SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, TiDB, Vitess) including schema design, query optimization, scaling, partitioning, sharding, and performance tuning.
Experience building and operating databases in cloud environments, including benchmarking, load testing, and capacity planning.
Experience designing and implementing multi-region, horizontally scalable, globally available datastore solutions.
Experience delivering major features or system changes through technical and execution plans; write high-quality, maintainable code.
Ownership of operations: monitoring, triage rotations, playbooks, testing, alerting, and on-call support.
Familiarity with connection poolers and proxies such as ProxySQL, RDS Proxy, PgBouncer.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.