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 Affirm’s 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 serve as the accountable technical leader for three critical domains: Purchasing, which powers Affirm’s checkout platform and is focused on optimizing the consumer experience during checkout and prequalification.Credit Underwriting, which manages credit risk and drives conversion through pricing and credit levers.Machine Learning Infrastructure, which supports Affirm’s credit and fraud models through scalable ML systems, including model training, inference, and feature serving.What You’ll DoDrive the long-term technical vision for Affirm’s 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 Affirm’s 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 Affirm’s long-term systems health.Foster a culture of rigor, curiosity, and technical excellence across engineering.What We Look ForProven 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 communicator, 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.Annual base pay range: $270,000 - $310,000. Affirm offers a range of benefits, including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents, flexible spending wallets, and an employee stock purchase plan.Affirm is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process. #J-18808-Ljbffr