Senior Backend Engineer - Growth

Kikoff
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for backend engineers who rapidly prototype and deliver scalable solutions in fintech, with a focus on measurable product impact and data-driven decision-making.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 4+ years of backend experience and a track record of product impact in fintech
    — “4+ years of industry experience, with demonstrated breadth and depth of product impact”
  • Engineers who are comfortable integrating machine learning for personalization
    — “deliver personalization at every step using machine learning”

Things to consider

  • The role requires working with serial entrepreneurs and startup-forward coworkers
    — “working with serial entrepreneurs who have built strong consumer brands and innovative products”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in end-to-end project ownership and measurable product impact
    — “You’ll own initiatives end-to-end: from rapid prototyping to production rollout”
  • Showcase skills in backend development and data-driven decision-making
    — “Be a data-driven individual who makes decisions based on insights and metrics”
  • Emphasize prior work in fintech or consumer-facing financial products
    — “We value extreme ownership, clear communication, a strong sense of craftsmanship”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • demonstrated breadth and depth of product impact
  • ownership of initiatives end-to-end
  • rapid prototyping to production rollout
Typical background
4+ years of industry experienceB.A. / B.S. / M.S. in computer science

Skills & requirements

Required

Backend DevelopmentData-driven Decision MakingProficient In Backend DevelopmentStrong Software Engineering Fundamentals

Preferred

FintechSerial Entrepreneur ExperienceStrong Professional Bonds

Stack & domain

Backend DevelopmentData-driven Decision MakingCommunicationTeamworkFintech

About the role

Original posting from Kikoff via Greenhouse

Kikoff: The Fintech Powering Financial Security at Scale

Kikoff is a profitable, pre-IPO fintech company on a mission to empower everyone to achieve financial security. With record revenue growth in 2025 and a unicorn valuation, we've built a suite of products that help millions of people build credit, access liquidity, and save money.

We're scaling fast. Join us if you want to build something meaningful and help millions of people move forward financially.

Why Kikoff:

This is a consumer fintech startup, and you will be working with serial entrepreneurs who have built strong consumer brands and innovative products. We value extreme ownership, clear communication, a strong sense of craftsmanship, and the desire to create lasting work and work relationships. Yes, you can build an exciting business AND have real-life real-customer impact.

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join the Growth Team behind our flagship credit-building product — one that’s already driving measurable, large-scale impact for our users and our business.

This isn’t about chasing vanity metrics or running random A/B tests. The team is our engine of impact — rapidly testing, iterating, and shipping ideas that help millions of Americans build stronger financial futures. Every project you touch already has proven traction; your mission is to amplify it through code, creativity, and data-driven decisions. At the same time, we aim to deliver personalization at every step using machine learning. You’ll own initiatives end-to-end: from rapid prototyping to production rollout, from analytics instrumentation to user-facing polish.

Requirements:

B.A. / B.S. / M.S. or strong self-taught fundamentals in computer science

4+ years of industry experience, with demonstrated breadth and depth of product impact

Proficient in backend development

Be a data-driven individual who makes decisions based on insights and metrics.

Desire to form strong professional bonds with startup-forward coworkers

Base Range$244,000—$292,000 USDA note on applying: We know great candidates sometimes hold back if they don’t meet every qualification listed. If you’re excited about this role and believe you can do the work, we encourage you to apply. We’re looking for capability and trajectory, not a perfect checklist match.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Kikoff Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

Please reference the following for more information.

Source: Kikoff careers (Greenhouse)

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