Manager, Software Engineering (Merchant Risk Intelligence & Platform)

The Manager, Software Engineering at Affirm plays a critical role in leading an engineering team focused on building and maintaining the Merchant Risk Intelligence & Platform solutions. Responsibilities include mentoring team members on design, code quality, and testing, ensuring system reliability and performance, collaborating with product managers to construct best-in-class processes, and fostering cross-team partnerships to enhance the merchant lifecycle management.

To qualify for the Manager, Software Engineering position at Affirm, candidates should possess over 7 years of software engineering experience, including at least 1 year in a leadership role. Strong back-end development skills, experience working with consumer-scale products, and excellent communication abilities are essential. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience is also required.

At Affirm, the Manager, Software Engineering position offers numerous growth opportunities, including the chance to lead a high-performing team and shape the future of merchant risk solutions. As Affirm continues to grow, leaders are empowered to influence the technology landscape in consumer financial services, fostering professional development for themselves and their teams.

The Manager, Software Engineering at Affirm will collaborate with a diverse team of engineers, product managers, and machine learning experts. This collaborative environment encourages innovation and allows for continuous learning, as the team focuses on building automated risk tools and enhancing the overall merchant lifecycle experience.

Affirm is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance, offering competitive vacation and holiday schedules, flexible remote work options, and a comprehensive benefits package. This ensures that the Manager, Software Engineering can focus on both their professional goals and personal well-being.

As a Manager, Software Engineering, it's crucial to assess the urgency and impact of each task. I prioritize by aligning tasks with business goals, consulting with my team for insights, and ensuring that the right resources are allocated to high-priority projects.

My leadership style is collaborative and empowering. I believe in fostering open communication, mentoring my team members, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued. This approach not only enhances team morale but also drives innovation.

To ensure high code quality, I implement regular code reviews, encourage pair programming, and invest in test automation. Continuous feedback and learning are essential components of maintaining a strong coding standard in any engineering team.

In a remote work setup, I focus on maintaining regular communication through team meetings, one-on-ones, and collaborative tools. I also prioritize team building activities to strengthen relationships and foster a cohesive team culture despite physical distances.

I have extensive experience in architecting and launching consumer-scale products, which involves understanding user needs, iterative development, testing, and gathering feedback. This experience has helped me ensure products meet the performance and reliability demands of users.

Mentoring junior engineers involves providing tailored guidance based on their unique learning styles. I encourage them to take ownership of projects while offering constructive feedback and support, aiming to boost their confidence and skill sets.

In a previous role, we faced a critical performance issue during peak usage. I led a task force to identify the bottlenecks, implemented caching strategies, and improved our infrastructure, which not only resolved the issue but enhanced system performance for future growth.

Key technologies include back-end development frameworks, cloud infrastructure, and machine learning tools. Familiarity with these technologies is essential to effectively support the Merchant Risk Intelligence & Platform team's objectives at Affirm.

I believe in addressing conflicts head-on through open discussions. By facilitating a constructive dialogue, I aim to understand all perspectives, mediate where necessary, and arrive at a resolution that strengthens both the team and the project outcomes.

My vision is to leverage advanced analytics and machine learning to create predictive models that enhance risk assessment and automate processes. This will help Affirm provide merchants with unparalleled support while minimizing risks effectively.