Staff Software Engineer - Europe

## About the Role As a Staff Software Engineer at Plaid, you will be part of a high-impact, cross-functional engineering team that operates at the intersection of distributed systems, financial infrastructure, and consumer UX. Your primary focus will be on setting the technical direction across Europe's product surface area, translating product strategy into clear engineering roadmaps. You will work closely with the Engineering Manager and Product Manager to identify opportunities, make tradeoffs, and keep the team focused on the highest-leverage work. The role requires a deep understanding of financial infrastructure, consumer UX, and the ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes.

Plaid's Europe team is responsible for localizing, scaling, and operating the bank connectivity layer that powers payments, underwriting, onboarding, and identity. The team owns four core pillars: Account-to-Account Payments, Cash Flow & Income Insights for Credit, Bank Connectivity Across Europe, and Consumer Experience. As a technical leader, you will be instrumental in driving the technical excellence of the team, setting and holding a high bar through design reviews, architectural decisions, and code quality.

The role involves staying hands-on, owning high-leverage projects, spiking and prototyping to de-risk, or going deep on the hardest parts of projects others own. You will maintain a strong connection to US engineering and platform teams, ensuring Europe's requirements shape platform decisions and the team leverages shared infrastructure rather than building in isolation.

## What You Will Do - Set technical direction across Europe's product surface area, translating product strategy into clear engineering roadmaps with crisp scoping, sequencing, and tradeoffs.

• Stay hands-on, owning high-leverage projects, spiking and prototyping to de-risk, or going deep on the hardest parts of projects others own.
• Own technical excellence for the team, setting and holding a high bar through design reviews, architectural decisions, and code quality.
• Partner closely with the Engineering Manager and Product Manager to identify opportunities, make tradeoffs, and keep the team focused on the highest-leverage work.
• Maintain a strong connection to US engineering and platform teams, ensuring Europe's requirements shape platform decisions and the team leverages shared infrastructure rather than building in isolation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including GTM, compliance, and operations, to make Plaid the default open banking layer for global fintechs operating in Europe.
• Drive the development of Account-to-Account Payments, ensuring seamless and reliable transactions across Europe.
• Work on Cash Flow & Income Insights for Credit, developing solutions that provide fintechs with accurate and actionable data.
• Contribute to the expansion of Bank Connectivity Across Europe, ensuring Plaid's network covers the majority of financial institutions.
• Enhance Consumer Experience, focusing on user-friendly and secure interactions between consumers and fintech applications.
• Participate in the development of Plaid's strategy for Europe, aligning with the company's overall mission and goals.

• Strong understanding of GTM and Excel, with the ability to apply these skills in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience with cloud-based technologies and infrastructure, including AWS or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of financial regulations and compliance, particularly in the European context.
• Strong coding skills in languages such as Java, Python, or similar.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems like Git.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex technical and regulatory challenges.
• Experience with data analytics and insights, particularly in the context of financial services.

• Knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence, particularly in the context of financial services.
• Familiarity with containerization using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks.
• Certification in cloud computing, such as AWS Certified Developer or similar.

• Comprehensive health insurance and benefits.
• Flexible PTO policy and remote work options.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference attendance.
• Access to the latest technologies and tools, including cloud-based infrastructure and development software.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact projects that shape the future of financial services.

- To stand out in your application, make sure to highlight your experience with distributed systems, financial infrastructure, and consumer UX, as these are key areas of focus for Plaid's Europe team.

• Familiarize yourself with Plaid's products and services, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission and goals.
• Emphasize your ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and collaborate with stakeholders across different disciplines.
• Showcase your problem-solving skills by providing examples of complex technical challenges you've overcome in your previous roles.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with data analytics and insights, particularly in the context of financial services, and how you can apply these skills to drive business growth and improvement.
• Consider creating a portfolio or repository of your work, including code samples and project descriptions, to demonstrate your technical expertise and accomplishments.
• Research the current market trends and salary ranges for software engineers in the fintech industry to ensure you're well-prepared for salary negotiations.