Backend / Python Software Engineer — Staff / Principal / Lead
RemoteStarAbout the role
Backend / Python Software Engineer — Staff / Principal / Lead
San Francisco, CA — Onsite
Full-Time
Relocation Assistance Available | H-1B Transfer Supported
About the Role
We are hiring a Staff / Principal / Lead Backend Engineer for a well-funded San Francisco fintech startup building next-generation infrastructure across banking, payments, digital wallets, and cryptocurrency.
The platform handles real money at international scale, integrating with banking providers, cryptocurrency wallets, payment rails, authentication systems, ledgers, and other financial services.
You will work directly with the technical founders and take significant ownership of the backend architecture, engineering standards, scalability, reliability, and security of the platform.
The current backend is a Python / FastAPI monolith running on AWS with PostgreSQL and Redis, with the flexibility to introduce Go or Rust services where performance or scale requires it.
What You'll Do
- Design, build, and scale mission-critical backend systems and APIs
- Own architecture across payments, wallets, ledgers, and financial integrations
- Build highly reliable systems where transaction accuracy and data integrity are critical
- Improve performance, scalability, fault tolerance, and observability
- Design APIs, database models, and distributed system components
- Integrate with banking, payment, crypto, authentication, and compliance providers
- Make key technical decisions alongside the founders
- Mentor engineers and help establish backend engineering standards as the team grows
What We're Looking For
✓ 5+ years of backend software engineering experience
✓ Strong production experience with Python
✓ Experience building and operating high-scale backend applications
✓ Strong knowledge of FastAPI or similar Python web frameworks
✓ Experience with PostgreSQL, Redis, and AWS
✓ Strong understanding of system design, APIs, databases, scalability, and reliability
✓ Proven ownership of production systems from design through deployment and operation
Highly Preferred
Experience building financial technology involving one or more of:
- Payments / Payment Processing
- Transaction Ledgers / Double-Entry Accounting
- Digital Wallets
- Banking Infrastructure
- Settlement & Reconciliation
- Fraud / Risk Systems
- AML / KYC
- Crypto / Blockchain / Stablecoins
Experience with Go, Rust, Kafka, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD, or event-driven architectures is a plus.
We particularly value engineers who have architected systems, built products from scratch, scaled high-volume platforms, reduced latency, improved reliability, or owned critical production infrastructure.
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and scale mission-critical backend systems and APIs
- Own architecture across payments, wallets, ledgers, and financial integrations
- Build highly reliable systems where transaction accuracy and data integrity are critical
- Improve performance, scalability, fault tolerance, and observability
- Design APIs, database models, and distributed system components
- Integrate with banking, payment, crypto, authentication, and compliance providers
- Make key technical decisions alongside the founders
- Mentor engineers and help establish backend engineering standards as the team grows
Qualifications
- 5+ years of backend software engineering experience
- Strong production experience with Python
- Experience building and operating high-scale backend applications
- Strong knowledge of FastAPI or similar Python web frameworks
- Experience with PostgreSQL, Redis, and AWS
- Strong understanding of system design, APIs, databases, scalability, and reliability
- Proven ownership of production systems from design through deployment and operation
Benefits
- Relocation Assistance Available
- H-1B Transfer Supported
Skills mentioned
About RemoteStar
Our consulting CTOs will assemble your team, ensuring diversity and top-tier talent from across the globe, while maximizing cost savings. RemoteStar helps businesses hire and manage top talent vetted by world class CTOs for their technical, communication and remote readiness. We provide end-to-end service from hiring to on boarding and employing the talent in compliance with local laws and regulations. The best part, there is no up-front recruitment cost. Build your own global remote team with RemoteStar. Showcase Your Leadership. Attract the Best. Whether your team is in-office or remote, your Leadership Brand is your biggest recruitment tool. We partner with CEOs to broadcast their unique culture, making your company the #1 choice for top-tier candidates.