Senior Software Engineer, Data Platform & AI Enablement

Airwallex
Seattle, US
Remote

Who this role is best for

Geared toward engineers with deep distributed systems expertise comfortable with real-time data streaming and AI infrastructure, based in Seattle and working full-time on high-visibility, global-scale projects.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5+ years of experience in distributed systems and a track record of leading complex infrastructure projects
    — “Have 5+ years of experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems or infrastructure platforms.”
  • Individuals who enjoy optimizing JVM performance and implementing advanced architectural patterns like Lakehouse
    — “You should have hands-on experience (or the desire to deep-dive) into the internals of Kafka, Flink, Spark, Kubernetes, or OLAP engines.”
  • Candidates who are technically curious and driven to explore AI/ML infrastructure and real-time systems for business impact
    — “Are intrinsically motivated to explore emerging tech in AI/ML infrastructure and real-time systems to create tangible business impact.”

Things to consider

  • A strong ownership mindset is expected, with responsibility for full SDLC of high-performance systems.
    — “Have a proven track record of taking 0-1 ownership of complex technical challenges, from initial design to production stability.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in full SDLC ownership of distributed systems and AI infrastructure components.
    — “Own the full SDLC for high-performance distributed systems (batch and streaming) that process petabytes of data across 30+ global regions.”
  • Emphasize hands-on work with JVM performance optimization and distributed storage technologies.
    — “Deep-dive into performance tuning and systems internals—such as state management, checkpointing, and exactly-once semantics.”
  • Showcase contributions to shared tooling, SDKs, or automation frameworks that improve team productivity.
    — “Advocate for elite software engineering practices, contributing to shared tooling, SDKs, and automation frameworks.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • Architect and build core infrastructure components
  • Optimize performance and systems internals
  • Develop AI infrastructure
  • Own SDLC for distributed systems
  • Advocate for software engineering practices
Typical background
Experience in distributed systemsStrong background in software engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Distributed SystemsReal-time Data ProcessingAI EnablementHigh-performance ComputingService Layer InterfacesLakehouse ArchitectureReal-time Data StreamingScalable Vector IndexingAgentic Workflows

Preferred

Proprietary InfrastructureGlobal Financial DataEmbedded Finance SolutionsAi-driven Product Development

Stack & domain

Distributed StorageStream ProcessingService-layer InterfacesAi-driven ProductsScalable Vector IndexingAgentic WorkflowsReal-time Data StreamingLeadershipCommunicationFinanceHealthcare

About the role

Original posting from Airwallex via Ashby

ABOUT AIRWALLEX

Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 250,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.

Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,300 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 27 offices around the globe. Valued at US$11 billion and backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, Robinhood Ventures, Sequoia, Salesforce Ventures, DST Global, and Lone Pine Capital, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.

ATTRIBUTES WE VALUE

We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles https://www.airwallex.com/us/operating-principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.

You're humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.

LOCATION: SEATTLE

WHO YOU ARE & ROLE OVERVIEW

The Platform Engineering team is architecting Airwallex’s next-generation foundational infrastructure. We are moving beyond standard pipelines to build a high-performance, distributed ecosystem that powers real-time AI enablement and global financial data.

We aim to push the boundaries of distributed storage, stream processing, and service-layer interfaces. We are looking for "Engineers’ Engineers"—builders who enjoy diving into the internals of distributed systems, optimizing JVM performance, and implementing robust architectural patterns like Lakehouse and real-time data.

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

  • Architect & Build: Lead technical decision-making and custom development for core infrastructure components, extending from foundational storage to high-availability service layers.
  • Systems Optimization: Deep-dive into performance tuning and systems internals—such as state management, checkpointing, and exactly-once semantics—to ensure millisecond-level accuracy at global scale.
  • AI Infrastructure: Develop and integrate the "Knowledge Platform," enabling AI-driven products through scalable vector indexing, agentic workflows, and real-time data streaming.
  • Distributed Systems at Scale: Own the full SDLC for high-performance distributed systems (batch and streaming) that process petabytes of data across 30+ global regions.
  • Engineering Rigor: Advocate for elite software engineering practices, contributing to shared tooling, SDKs, and automation frameworks that enhance the productivity of engineering teams company-wide.
  • Mentorship: Act as a technical beacon and mentor for mid-level engineers, driving project delivery through design reviews and technical leadership.

YOU MIGHT BE A GREAT FIT IF YOU:

  • Experience: Have 5+ years of experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems or infrastructure platforms.
  • First Principles Thinking: Possess a deep understanding of computer science fundamentals, including distributed systems, memory management, and networking protocols.
  • The "Builder" Stack: Are proficient in Java, Kotlin, or Go. You should have hands-on experience (or the desire to deep-dive) into the internals of Kafka, Flink, Spark, Kubernetes, or OLAP engines.
  • Ownership Mindset: Have a proven track record of taking 0-1 ownership of complex technical challenges, from initial design to production stability.
  • Curiosity & Impact: Are intrinsically motivated to explore emerging tech in AI/ML infrastructure and real-time systems to create tangible business impact.

APPLICANT SAFETY POLICY: FRAUD AND THIRD-PARTY RECRUITERS

To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com http://airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com http://careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.

Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Source: Airwallex careers (Ashby)

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