> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2379981-software-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2379981-software-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Software Engineer

- **Company:** Columns, Inc.
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Salary:** $130,000.0 - $250,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Abstraction Layers, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), User Authentication, Computer Programming, Distributed Systems, Middleware, Fault Tolerance, M Programming Language, Performance Tuning, Software Engineering, Transaction Processing (Computing), Change Data Capture, Backend, Data Management, Api Design, Multiplatform, Data Pipelines
- **Published:** August 20, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/software-engineer-san-francisco-ca--76e9b768-0aae-4b78-90ce-4f7c5dd9f473

## About the Role

Application Programming Interface (API), Authentication, Backend as a Service (BaaS), Banking Services, Brokerage, Computer Programming, Data Collection, Data Management, Distributed Computing, Diversity, E Programming Language, Finance, Financial Services, Flexible Spending Accounts, High Tech Industry, Legal, Middleware, Multiplatform/Cross-Platform, Payment Processing, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Process Improvement, Software Engineering, Supply Chain, Systems Maintenance, Systems Scalability, Transaction Processing/Management

## Description

For companies building financial technology and transforming the financial services space, the biggest bottleneck to their growth and innovation is often the underlying banks and infrastructure stack they rely on. We have spent our careers founding and scaling companies like Plaid, Square, Meta, Blend, and Affirm, and have seen this problem firsthand - builders and developers needing to partner with traditional banks, and creating API and abstraction layers over the patchwork that is the bank, its core, and many other vendors. All of this results in a complex (and often expensive) banking supply chain involving a user, fintech, BaaS middleware provider, bank, core and the Federal Reserve.

At Column, we set out to simplify and fix this. We are a bank and a software company built from the ground up, offering builders and developers technology-forward banking solutions that cut out the hundreds of vendors, middleware providers, and abstraction layers. This means a safer, more transparent, and less costly banking supply chain. Come build with us!

The opportunity:

We're a lean and experienced team. We like our current team size of 11 engineers but are open to adding one more strong backend engineer to the team this year.

You'll be responsible for building and maintaining the systems that power everything at Column - from our payments stack to developer APIs to core platform services. This role is perfect for someone who thrives at the intersection of distributed systems, financial infrastructure, and clean API design. Expect to own core parts of our backend and shape the technical foundation of a company moving billions of dollars per day.

This role is based in our Presidio office in San Francisco and follows a hybrid schedule. You will report directly to William, the CEO.

Read more about Life @ Column and our hiring process here.

What you'll do:

 * Build and maintain the backend systems powering Column's core banking platform - payments processing, transaction logic, and real-time ledgering
 * Own direct integrations with the Federal Reserve and real-time payment networks, ensuring correctness and reliability at every layer
 * Design and implement APIs, services, and data pipelines that both internal teams and external developers depend on
 * Drive improvements to system resiliency, scalability, and observability across our distributed architecture
 * Lead cross-cutting platform initiatives like authentication/authorization, event streaming, and change data capture
 * Write code that runs close to the money: optimize for correctness, performance, and fault tolerance in a regulated environment
 * Uphold the highest standards for system safety in a mission-critical, compliance-sensitive context


## Related Videos

- [API Design - Getting Started](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/33-api-design-getting-started)
- [Why make use of an integration platform in today's software developments and infrastructure?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/758-why-make-use-of-an-integration-platform-in-today-s-software-developments-and-infrastructure)
- [Developer’s Perspective: Overview of the Tezos Blockchain Ecosystem](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/237-developer-s-perspective-overview-of-the-tezos-blockchain-ecosystem)
- [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock)
- [Full-stack role-based authorization in 45 minutes](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/312-full-stack-role-based-authorization-in-45-minutes)
- [Rest API Antipatterns](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100208-rest-api-antipatterns)

## Related Articles

- [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers)
- [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers)
- [Top-Paying Tech Jobs (with Salaries)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/372-top-paying-tech-jobs-with-salaries)
- [Best Paying Jobs in Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/256-best-paying-jobs-in-technology)
- [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers)
- [Dev Digest 139 - Soft and hard queries](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/487-dev-digest-139-soft-and-hard-queries)