Senior Software Engineer

About the role

Join the Truework team, a startup-like unit within Checkr, to build platforms for employment and income verification. You will contribute to technology used by 8 of the top 10 mortgage lenders in the US while operating with high autonomy. This role focuses on backend development, though we welcome applicants from various engineering backgrounds who demonstrate strong technical ownership. You will architect and deliver critical infrastructure that powers verification workflows for some of the largest financial institutions in the country. The position requires a self-driven individual who can translate ambiguous problems into robust technical solutions. You will work closely with product, design, and data teams to ensure that the platforms we build are both scalable and reliable. Success in this role means owning the full lifecycle of your services from initial design through production deployment and iteration.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Function as an independent contributor, delivering high-quality solutions with minimal oversight while maintaining a high standard of code integrity.
• Collaborate with customers and internal stakeholders to define product requirements and resolve ambiguities through structured discovery sessions.
• Design and architect new features alongside product, design, and engineering partners to ensure alignment on technical constraints and long-term vision.
• Validate customer needs and ship rapid MVPs that provide immediate value while informing the direction of future product development.
• Maintain high standards for software quality and security by implementing rigorous code reviews and adhering to best practices across the development lifecycle.
• Instrument and deploy product experiments using a data-driven approach to measure impact and iterate based on empirical evidence.
• Build performant, scalable code to support the platform, ensuring that services can handle high volumes of verification requests efficiently.
• Triage and resolve production issues for team-owned services, working closely with on-call rotations to minimize downtime and customer impact.
• Write comprehensive documentation that enables other engineers to understand, use, and extend the systems you build.
• Participate in on-call duties to respond to incidents and provide technical leadership during critical production events.
• Partner with data teams to analyze system performance and identify opportunities for optimization or new feature exploration.
• Engage with external stakeholders, including financial institutions and lending partners, to gather feedback and ensure solutions meet their needs.
• Mentor junior engineers by providing guidance on code quality, system design, and effective problem-solving techniques.
• Contribute to the open-source community where appropriate, representing Checkr and the Truework brand with professionalism.

Requirements

• 5+ years of software development experience in roles that involved significant responsibility for backend systems and service ownership.
• Bachelor degree or equivalent education and training, such as completion of a coding bootcamp or substantial professional experience in technology.
• Proficiency in Python and Javascript or similar languages and frameworks, with a demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable code.
• Experience building RESTful APIs, including designing endpoints, managing versioning, and ensuring robust error handling and documentation.
• Strong communication and documentation abilities, with the capacity to translate technical concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage features from initial design through to production release, including planning, scoping, and coordination with cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to engage with external stakeholders, such as financial institutions and regulatory contacts, to clarify requirements and gather feedback.
• Comfort working in an agile environment where priorities can shift quickly and adaptability is essential for success.

Skills & tools

• Python
• Javascript
• RESTful APIs
• Backend systems architecture
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP
• Familiarity with database technologies including relational and NoSQL stores
• Knowledge of containerization and orchestration tools like Docker and Kubernetes
• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code practices
• Experience with monitoring and logging tools to ensure system reliability

Practical notes

• Benefits include 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Up to $25,000 reimbursement for fertility, adoption, and parental planning services.
• Includes a learning and development allowance, monthly wellness stipend, and home office stipend.
• Flexible PTO policy.
• Competitive cash and equity compensation.
• Relocation stipend may be available for those moving to a hub location.
• In-office perks include lunch five times a week, commuter stipend, and office snacks.
• Checkr is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
• This is a full-time position based in San Francisco, California, requiring in-office presence for a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this role.
• The compensation range for this role is between $185,000 and $218,000 USD, subject to experience and location.
• Start dates are flexible, but we ask that new hires join within a reasonable timeframe to ensure a smooth transition and team integration.
• Travel is not required for this position as the role is based entirely within our San Francisco office environment.