Distinguished Software Engineer, Architecture

Distinguished Software Engineer, Architecture (Checkout) Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest. In this role, you will be a senior member of the Architecture Group, reporting directly to the Head of Architecture. You will own the architecture, technical roadmap, and delivery outcomes for the Decisions Foundations Engineering Group, which includes the Purchasing, Credit Underwriting, and Machine Learning domains. You will also shape the company’s broader technical direction through leadership within the Architecture Group, driving innovation and architectural coherence across the organization. You will serve as the accountable technical leader for three critical domains: Purchasing, which powers the checkout platform and focuses on optimizing the consumer experience during checkout and pre‑qualification. Credit Underwriting, which manages credit risk and drives conversion through pricing and credit levers. Machine Learning Infrastructure, which supports credit and fraud models through scalable ML systems, including model training, inference, and feature serving. What You’ll Do Drive the long‑term technical vision for the Purchasing, Credit Underwriting, and ML infrastructure domains. Lead architectural strategy and roadmap definition in collaboration with domain tech leads and the broader Architecture Group. Champion scalable, performant, and user‑centric solutions across the engineering organization. Define and uphold standards for design and code quality through reviews, mentoring, and hands‑on architectural guidance. Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to influence product direction and ensure strong alignment between business goals and system architecture. Guide cross‑functional teams to deliver end‑to‑end solutions across service boundaries and external dependencies. Mentor and support a team of senior technical leaders, helping them grow as architects and stewards of the company’s long‑term systems health. Foster a culture of rigor, curiosity, and technical excellence across engineering. What We Look For Proven success leading technical architecture for large‑scale consumer systems, ideally across multiple domains or product lines. Deep experience guiding engineering strategy and delivery at both high‑growth startups and mature technology companies. Ability to distill complex technical problems and trade‑offs into clear decisions that influence product and platform evolution. Effective communication skills, capable of engaging both engineers and executives to drive alignment and clarity. Track record of mentoring senior engineers and developing the next generation of technical leaders. Extensive experience building and operating large‑scale, highly available systems. 15+ years of software engineering experience, with prior experience in technical leadership roles. Experience in FinTech or retail (consumer and merchant‑facing systems) is a plus. Experience with Machine Learning infrastructure (e.g., feature stores, training pipelines, low‑latency inference) is a plus. JVM experience at scale is a plus. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience. Pay Grade - VEquity Grade - 13 Employees new to the company typically come in at the start of the pay range. Base pay range per year: $270,000 - $310,000. Total compensation 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. Benefits Health care coverage – the company covers all premiums for you and your dependents. Flexible Spending Wallets – generous stipends for technology, food, lifestyle needs, and family expenses. Time off – competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to rest and recharge. ESPP – employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares at a discount. Affirm is a remote‑first company. The majority of roles are remote; some may require occasional office presence. Eligible for U.S. positions in Los Angeles or San Francisco under local fair chance ordinances. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities during the hiring process. By clicking “Submit Application,” you acknowledge that you have read the Global Candidate Privacy Notice and give informed consent for personal information handling as described. #J-18808-Ljbffr