Senior Backend Software Engineer, Payments Platform

ABOUT THE ROLE Airbnb’s Payments team is the backbone of a global marketplace that connects millions of hosts and guests across 191 countries. As a Senior Backend Software Engineer on the Ledger team, you will help build and maintain the financial system of record that guarantees every transaction is accurate, auditable, and compliant with the company’s strict safety standards. Your work will directly support Airbnb’s mission to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere by ensuring that money moves seamlessly and securely between parties worldwide. WHAT YOU'LL DO You will design and implement high‑throughput, low‑latency services that record and reconcile billions of dollars in payments each year. You will collaborate with product, data science, and operations teams to translate business requirements into robust, scalable architectures and to continuously refine system performance. You will lead cross‑functional technical initiatives, driving best practices in observability, testing, and deployment pipelines. You will mentor junior engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and knowledge‑sharing sessions, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning. You will also identify systemic improvements that reduce operational toil and increase overall reliability. WHAT YOU'LL NEED You have at least five years of hands‑on backend engineering experience, with a strong background in distributed systems, data modeling, and API design. You possess proven expertise in building payment or fintech platforms that handle high transaction volumes and strict compliance requirements. You hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. You are a technical leader who can set strategy, influence cross‑team priorities, and mentor others while maintaining a focus on performance, availability, and quality. You communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels and thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment. WHY REMOTE Airbnb embraces a distributed, asynchronous culture that empowers teams to work from anywhere while maintaining a strong sense of community. Remote employees enjoy flexible schedules that support work‑life balance, and the company provides the tools and support needed to stay connected, productive, and engaged across time zones. The occasional in‑office visit or offsite is optional and scheduled with your manager to align with your personal and professional goals. BENEFITS Airbnb offers comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents. You receive paid time off, a generous parental leave policy, and a remote work stipend to help set up a productive home office. The company provides a learning and development budget, access to industry conferences, and a culture that encourages continuous growth. Competitive equity packages and a focus on employee well‑being complete the benefits suite.