As a Principal Software Engineer at Highnote, you will architect and build secure, compliant embedded finance products using Java. You will lead technical design for our high-scale card issuing and ledger platform, leveraging AI-powered development tools to drive productivity. This is a critical role for scaling our infrastructure and solving complex payment use cases.
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San Francisco, United States$190K-$240K + Equity
Principal Software Engineer at Highnote - VC-backed fintech SaaS
Highnote is revolutionizing embedded finance, and we’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer to lead the charge. Founded by leaders from Braintree and PayPal, and backed by over $145M, this role offers a rare opportunity to architect the future of card issuing and payment processing. If you have 12+ years of experience and are excited about leveraging AI-powered development to build mission-critical financial infrastructure in San Francisco, we want to hear from you.
Overview
Role overview
Company
Highnote
Highnote - VC-backed fintech SaaS platform
Responsibilities
What you will do
- Design and implement mission-critical platform products and financial ledgers using Java 11+, SpringBoot, and robust SQL.
- Integrate and champion AI-powered development tools across the entire software lifecycle to accelerate prototyping and iteration.
- Collaborate across domains to document and strengthen platform architecture while ensuring top-tier security and compliance.
Candidate profile
Who this is a fit for
- 12+ years of experience building high-scale production systems with a focus on scalable, performant, and maintainable Java code.
- Deep proficiency in modern engineering ecosystems, including AI agent frameworks, cloud platforms (AWS/GCP), and container orchestration like Kubernetes.
- Passionate about customer-centric engineering and thrive in fast-paced startup environments where you solve problems that don’t have existing blueprints.
What makes it remarkable
Why this role is remarkable
- Join a powerhouse team founded by Braintree and PayPal veterans, backed by $145M+ in funding from top-tier investors like Oak HC/FT and Costanoa Ventures.
- Influence the architecture of a modern card-issuing platform that is setting new industry standards for flexibility, scalability, and developer experience.
- High-impact, hybrid role in San Francisco with a flat hierarchy, offering direct exposure to leadership and the chance to build from the ground up.
Jack & Jill
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Meet Jack
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