Backend Engineer • Senior

Who you are

You have 5+ years of backend engineering experience building production systems at scale — you've owned services from design through deployment and have navigated the complexities of distributed systems. Your deep expertise in Java and AWS allows you to create robust, scalable applications that handle significant user interactions seamlessly. You understand the importance of REST APIs and have experience designing them to ensure smooth communication between services. Your familiarity with PostgreSQL means you can optimize database interactions for performance and reliability, ensuring that data is handled efficiently and securely.

You thrive in collaborative environments — working closely with product and data teams to transform complex credit insights into actionable guidance is something you enjoy. You have a keen eye for user-centric design, ensuring that the backend systems you build enhance the overall user experience. You are adaptable and ready to evolve systems as the company grows, understanding that the financial landscape is ever-changing and requires innovative solutions.

Desirable

Experience with AI-driven systems is a plus, as you will contribute to the technical foundation of Kikoff’s emerging AI coaching platform. Familiarity with integrating services with major credit bureaus and financial data providers will set you apart, as will your ability to design user-centric credit-building workflows that align with regulatory requirements.

What you'll do

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Kikoff, you will design and implement the backend systems that power our core credit-building experience. This includes developing features for credit actions, subscription flows, credit report processing, and financial monitoring. You will ensure these systems scale reliably as we grow, taking ownership of key domains within the credit-building platform. Your work will directly influence how millions of users understand, improve, and take control of their credit journey.

You will collaborate closely with product and data teams to refine the payment and subscription infrastructure that supports our product. Your role will involve architecting and evolving backend systems that are not only reliable but also intelligent and adaptive. You will be responsible for integrating with major credit bureaus and financial data providers, ensuring that our systems remain compliant with federal, state, and local laws.

In addition to your core responsibilities, you will contribute to the development of our AI-driven smart credit coach, helping to transform complex credit insights into clear, actionable guidance for our users. You will participate in code reviews, mentor junior engineers, and help establish best practices within the team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

What we offer

At Kikoff, we are redefining how people build financial confidence. You will be part of a mission-driven team that is dedicated to helping millions of Americans establish credit and access smarter financial products. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, along with opportunities for professional growth and development. Our San Francisco office provides a collaborative environment where your contributions will have a direct impact on our users' financial journeys. We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't match every requirement — your unique perspective could be just what we need.