Engineering
We're building the data infrastructure and consumer applications that support our core business and developing products.
San Francisco, CA or Remote (Based in the U.S.)
Staff Backend Software Engineer (Identity)
We’re seeking an experienced full-stack capable, backend-focused Staff Software Engineer to lead NerdWallet’s Identity Platform team. NerdWallet provides consumers with the ability to understand and improve their credit score, manage their spending, track their net worth, and more. Sitting at the foundation of these capabilities is NerdWallet’s Identity Platform, which provides the critical capabilities of authentication, authorization, and related components.
You will lead the next-generation evolution of the platform towards increased operational excellence, outstanding security, and increased use of standards-based auth schemes.
Over the next 6 months, here are some things you might work on:
- Lead the technical roadmap and execution of the platform in our pursuit of more open standards for auth (such as OAuth)
- Build security-focused improvements in the identity platform
- Improve operational excellence and reduce infrastructure costs
Where you can make an impact:
- Serve as a technical reference for the team
- Drive large initiatives in collaboration with the EM, PM, PGM, and peer engineers on and outside the team
- Drive work beyond the team in adopting new features and capabilities
- Deliver on broadly impactful work - frameworks, libraries, and whatever else it takes to create an excellent developer experience when using the platform
- Mentor other engineers on the team
You are:
- An expert in all things IAM: You have worked on auth systems at scale, and can demonstrate understanding of and experience with relevant concepts, challenges, and approaches to this domain
- Communicative and collaborative: You are able to work effectively with others. You will be working closely with other software, security, and infrastructure engineers, product managers, and engineering leadership to envision and complete the common IAM platform on which the rest of the organization heavily relies
- Pragmatic: You bias for action and turn sophisticated options into sensible decisions–decisions that don’t let perfection get in the way of good enough. At the same time, you know when to advocate for something better
- A leader and owner: You have demonstrated feature development and roadmap ownership, can lead by example, and enjoy mentoring and inspiring other engineers. You’re willing to dive into areas outside your team’s core ownership in order to move the team’s priorities forward
Your experience:
We recognize not everyone will meet all of the criteria. If you meet most of the criteria below and you’re excited about the opportunity and willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you.
- You’ve been a leader in this space and collaborate closely with security and other partners to own and operate a best-in-class auth platform
- Expert in Python and/or Go: We use both. Being an expert at both is bonus points, but strong proficiency with at least one is necessary
- Expert in backend architecture: You know what the right tools for the job are for creating highly secure, high-throughput, data-intensive services, and you know how to employ these tools in new and existing systems
- Full-stack: You have a strong understanding of or experience with the frontend aspects of an auth system. While the platform team collaborates with other teams on these components, we often roll up our sleeves and dive into frontend applications, libraries, and things in between (like GraphQL) to get the job done. At the very least, we operate as subject matter experts in the domain, often directing the implementation strategies frontend teams must take to be successful and secure
- 8+ years in a professional software engineer position
- Expert in the modern SDLC: Proficiency with git, CI/CD, unit and integration testing, cloud (we use AWS heavily), etc
Where:
- This role will be based in San Francisco, CA or remote (based in the U.S.).
- We believe great work can be done anywhere. No matter where you are based, NerdWallet offers benefits and perks to support the physical, financial, and emotional well being of you and your family.
What we offer:
Pay Transparency
- The salary range for this role is $152,000-$282,000.
- Base pay offered may vary within the posted range based on several factors, including but not limited to education, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
Work Hard, Stay Balanced (Life’s a series of balancing acts, eh?)
- Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents
- Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Time Off + 13 holidays + 4 Mental Health Days Off
- New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care
- Mental health support through Ginger.io
- Financial wellness, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) through Northstar
- Paid sabbatical for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge and pursue their interests
- Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contribution
- Weekly Virtual Bootcamp, Yoga, and Mindfulness Meditation sessions
- Monthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend
Have Some Fun! (Nerds are fun, too)
- Nerd-led group initiatives – Intramural Sports, Employee Resource Groups for Parents, Diversity, and Inclusion, Women, LGBTQIA, and other communities
- Hackathons, Happy Hours, and team events across all teams and departments
- Company-wide events like Little Nerds Day (aka bring your kids to work day, even if you're remote!) and our annual Charity Auction
Lifestyle (Be your best self - we’ll take care of the details)
- Our Nerds love to make an impact by paying it forward – Donate to your favorite causes with a company match
- Work from home equipment stipend and co-working space subsidy
- Anniversary recognition program – choose from different items and experiences
- Commuting stipend
Plan for your future (And when you retire on your island, remember the little people)
- 401K with company match
- Annual Enrichment Stipend for learning and development
- Be the first to test and benefit from our new financial products and tools
- Access to Rocket Lawyer for online legal support and resources
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.
NerdWallet is committed to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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