Experienced Staff Software Engineer, Payments - Design and Development of Scalable Payment Gateway Platforms

Introduction to Airbnb and Our Mission Airbnb was founded in 2007 with a simple yet profound idea: to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere. Since then, our platform has grown to include over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way. Our mission is built on the belief that by empowering people to belong anywhere, we can foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding among individuals and communities. The Community You Will Join The Airbnb Payments team plays a critical role in supporting our mission by economically empowering Airbnb businesses and our global community of guests and hosts. As a Staff Software Engineer on the Payments Processing team, you will be part of a dynamic group that connects Airbnb to the outside world of payment processors, ensuring the execution of payments anywhere reliably, accurately, conveniently, and cost-effectively. Our platform integrates with 20+ different Payments Service Providers, processing 70+ currencies across 191 countries and moving billions of dollars on an annual basis. The Difference You Will Make As a Staff Software Engineer on the Payments Processing team, your mission is to design and build a payments gateway platform that is fast and easy to integrate with, reliable for money movements, smart to route our business cost-effectively, resilient to any external processor downtime in any market, and accurate for Financial reporting. You will be responsible for making technical decisions, providing technical guidance for engineers and teams, advising on architecture, and proposing solutions to payment problems that span multiple teams and organizations. Your expertise will be crucial in leading a cross-team group of engineers and partnering with product, data, finance, operations to push the boundaries of what payments gateway platforms can support. Key Responsibilities Lead a group of 5-8 engineers to design and build our next generation of service-oriented-architecture gateway platforms, making processor integration simple, fast, flexible, and robust. Design and build a platform that has strong redundancy functions and is processor-agnostic for compliance, vaulting, and transaction processing. Partner with Design and Product to innovate and lead new initiatives to improve our orchestrations, anomaly detections, payin and payout qualities. Collaborate with Partnerships and Product teams to define Airbnb’s payment scorecard and operational process. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, helping them grow in their careers and develop their skills. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies, applying this knowledge to improve our payment gateway platforms and stay ahead of the competition. Your Expertise To be successful in this role, you will need to have a strong and diverse skillset in relevant areas, including: 9+ years of software development experience with a minimum of 5 years experience working within payments. Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree, preferably in Computer Science, or equivalent experience. Experience leading design, implementation, and deployment of one or more high-scale, cross-functional payment systems. Experience driving initiatives that span across teams or departments. Ability to work independently while delivering production-ready code with minimal guidance. Deep understanding of async programming models (events, callbacks, promises, async/await). Experience with Java, relational databases, and caching solutions. Experience in designing APIs and building RESTful services. Experience with message queuing, data streaming, and workflow frameworks. Experience with distributed systems and service-oriented architecture. Experience with Agile software development and Agile software solutions. Essential Qualifications In addition to the skills and experience listed above, you will need to have: Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams. A passion for building scalable, reliable, and efficient payment gateway platforms. A willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and industry trends. Preferred Qualifications While not required, the following qualifications are preferred: Experience working with cloud-based technologies, such as AWS or Google Cloud. Experience with containerization using Docker and Kubernetes. Experience with security and compliance frameworks, such as PCI-DSS or GDPR. Experience with data analytics and visualization tools, such as Tableau or Power BI. Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits At Airbnb, we are committed to helping our employees grow and develop in their careers. As a Staff Software Engineer on the Payments Processing team, you will have access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including: Technical training and workshops, such as Java, Python, or cloud computing. Mentorship programs, where you can learn from experienced engineers and leaders. Opportunities to attend industry conferences and meetups, such as AWS re:Invent or Google Cloud Next. Airbnb’s internal learning platform, which offers a wide range of courses and tutorials on topics such as software development, data science, and product management. Work Environment and Company Culture At Airbnb, we pride ourselves on our unique and dynamic company culture. Our offices are designed to be collaborative and inspiring, with amenities such as free meals, fitness classes, and game rooms. We also offer a range of employee benefits, including: Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options and flexible hours. Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage. 401(k) matching and retirement savings plans. Employee stock options and equity incentives. Access to Airbnb’s internal travel program, which offers discounts on bookings and experiences. Compensation, Perks, and Benefits The base pay range for this role is $204,000 - $259,000 USD per year, depending on experience and qualifications. In addition to base pay, this role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, benefits, and Employee Travel Credits. We also offer a range of perks and benefits, including: Free meals and snacks in our offices. On-site fitness classes and wellness programs. Game rooms and social areas. Employee discounts on Airbnb bookings and experiences. Access to our internal learning platform and training programs. Conclusion If you are a motivated and experienced software engineer looking for a new challenge, we encourage you to apply for this role. As a Staff Software Engineer on the Payments Processing team, you will have the opportunity to work on complex and impactful projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and develop your skills and expertise in a dynamic and supportive environment. Don’t hesitate to apply – we can’t wait to hear from you! : Apply for this job