Software Engineer Jobs at Substack with Visa Sponsorship
Substack engineers work on creator monetization infrastructure, subscription platforms, and content delivery at scale. The company has sponsored work visas for Software Engineers across multiple categories, making it a realistic target if you're on H-1B, OPT, or TN status and want to build in the creator economy space.
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INTRODUCTION
Substack is building a new economic engine for culture, giving the brightest, most interesting, and most creative people on the internet the power of their own publishing platform. The terms of our culture should not be set by gate-keeping legacy media or chaos-fueling social media, but by the people who actually make and participate in that culture. Substack’s model, based on direct subscriptions, has fueled an explosion of independent publishing. It empowers creators with economic autonomy, creative ownership, and a direct connection to their most engaged audiences.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TEAM
We’re working on the next frontier of products and features to help Substack creators connect and manage their community. This ranges from DMs to Substack Chat to entirely new products.
Our team brainstorms with the CEO, Chris Best, and each engineer contributes ideas for new products and UI/UX upgrades to existing products. Ultimately those ideas become internal prototypes, and then become products shipped to our millions of users.
We’re a small team of generalists, so we especially value an interest in working across our tech stack, willingness to prototype, and product-mindedness.
Responsibilities
- Build frontend and backend (and sometimes mobile) features that help creators manage their communities, and users connect more deeply within these communities.
- Collaborate with designers, writers, support staff, and many others. From product concept and research to implementation and deployment, we expect you to own your work and operate autonomously.
- We work with TypeScript, especially Node/Express and React, and Postgres. It’s helpful if you know these technologies already; if not, we’ll be excited to help you learn.
REQUIREMENTS
- At least 3+ years of software engineering experience.
- Independent and autonomous. We’re too small to micromanage, and expect that every person at the company owns their work and can be a leader.
- Hold yourself and others to a high standard when working on production systems.
- Take pride in building elegant and delightful product experiences. Substack works best when it gets out of the way so writers can focus on writing and connecting with their readers.
- Enjoy collaboration with a diverse group of thinkers while bringing our own unique experience and background to the team.
- Believe in Substack’s mission to build a better business model for writing.
Experience at a fast-growing startup or working on a high-performing growth team is not required, but is a plus.
COMPENSATION
- Our cash compensation salary range for this role is $140,000 - $260,000. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.
Substack's compensation package includes a market competitive salary, equity for all full time roles, and exceptional benefits.
Substack is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status), age, national origin, veteran or disability status. We’re seeking people passionate about enabling independent expression and building a better business model for creators. If you want to see what media, communities, and content can become when unmoored from advertising models, and you have the skills and experience to contribute, we’d love to meet you.
Please see our Privacy Notice for details regarding Substack's collection and use of personal information relating to the application and recruitment process by clicking here.

INTRODUCTION
Substack is building a new economic engine for culture, giving the brightest, most interesting, and most creative people on the internet the power of their own publishing platform. The terms of our culture should not be set by gate-keeping legacy media or chaos-fueling social media, but by the people who actually make and participate in that culture. Substack’s model, based on direct subscriptions, has fueled an explosion of independent publishing. It empowers creators with economic autonomy, creative ownership, and a direct connection to their most engaged audiences.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TEAM
We’re working on the next frontier of products and features to help Substack creators connect and manage their community. This ranges from DMs to Substack Chat to entirely new products.
Our team brainstorms with the CEO, Chris Best, and each engineer contributes ideas for new products and UI/UX upgrades to existing products. Ultimately those ideas become internal prototypes, and then become products shipped to our millions of users.
We’re a small team of generalists, so we especially value an interest in working across our tech stack, willingness to prototype, and product-mindedness.
Responsibilities
- Build frontend and backend (and sometimes mobile) features that help creators manage their communities, and users connect more deeply within these communities.
- Collaborate with designers, writers, support staff, and many others. From product concept and research to implementation and deployment, we expect you to own your work and operate autonomously.
- We work with TypeScript, especially Node/Express and React, and Postgres. It’s helpful if you know these technologies already; if not, we’ll be excited to help you learn.
REQUIREMENTS
- At least 3+ years of software engineering experience.
- Independent and autonomous. We’re too small to micromanage, and expect that every person at the company owns their work and can be a leader.
- Hold yourself and others to a high standard when working on production systems.
- Take pride in building elegant and delightful product experiences. Substack works best when it gets out of the way so writers can focus on writing and connecting with their readers.
- Enjoy collaboration with a diverse group of thinkers while bringing our own unique experience and background to the team.
- Believe in Substack’s mission to build a better business model for writing.
Experience at a fast-growing startup or working on a high-performing growth team is not required, but is a plus.
COMPENSATION
- Our cash compensation salary range for this role is $140,000 - $260,000. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.
Substack's compensation package includes a market competitive salary, equity for all full time roles, and exceptional benefits.
Substack is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status), age, national origin, veteran or disability status. We’re seeking people passionate about enabling independent expression and building a better business model for creators. If you want to see what media, communities, and content can become when unmoored from advertising models, and you have the skills and experience to contribute, we’d love to meet you.
Please see our Privacy Notice for details regarding Substack's collection and use of personal information relating to the application and recruitment process by clicking here.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Software Engineer Jobs at Substack Jobs
Align your portfolio with Substack's stack
Substack runs on React, TypeScript, and Node.js with heavy emphasis on payments and publishing infrastructure. Tailor your GitHub portfolio and system design examples to creator platforms, subscription billing, or content delivery before you apply.
Apply before your OPT clock runs tight
F-1 OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization, with a 60-day grace period after it ends. Substack's hiring cycles can take 6 to 10 weeks, so start your application well before your authorization window narrows.
Target roles matching your current visa category
TN visa holders must show the offered role maps cleanly to a NAFTA-listed occupation like Computer Systems Analyst or Engineer. Review the job description against DOL's TN occupation list before applying to confirm your classification holds at the border.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Substack openings by visa type
Searching broadly wastes time when you need confirmed sponsorship. Migrate Mate filters Software Engineer roles at Substack by the visa types the company actively sponsors, so you can focus your prep on positions that match your authorization status.
Prepare for H-1B cap timing if you're outside the lottery
If Substack extends you an offer and you haven't cleared the H-1B cap, your start date will depend on the April lottery and an October 1 activation. Discuss this timeline openly with your hiring contact so the offer letter reflects realistic conditions.
Software Engineer at Substack jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Software Engineer at Substack JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Substack sponsor H-1B visas for Software Engineers?
Yes, Substack has sponsored H-1B visas for Software Engineer roles. As a smaller technology company focused on creator infrastructure, sponsorship decisions are typically made at the role level, so it's worth confirming with your recruiter early. If you're subject to the H-1B cap, factor in lottery timing and the October 1 start date when negotiating your offer.
Which visa types are commonly used for Software Engineer roles at Substack?
Substack has sponsored H-1B visas and supports F-1 OPT for Software Engineers, including STEM OPT extensions where the degree field qualifies. Canadian and Mexican nationals may be eligible under the TN category if the specific role maps to a qualifying occupation such as Computer Systems Analyst. Confirm which categories apply to your situation during the offer stage.
How do I apply for Software Engineer jobs at Substack?
Applications go through Substack's careers page, where Software Engineer roles are posted by team and seniority level. Use Migrate Mate to browse current openings filtered by visa sponsorship eligibility before applying directly. The process typically includes a recruiter screen, a technical assessment focused on full-stack or backend skills, and a series of engineering interviews covering system design and coding.
What qualifications and experience does Substack expect for Software Engineer roles?
Substack's engineering roles generally require strong proficiency in TypeScript, React, and Node.js, with experience building scalable web products. For mid-level and senior positions, prior work on subscription systems, payment integrations, or high-traffic publishing platforms is a meaningful differentiator. A computer science degree is common but not always required if your project history demonstrates equivalent depth.
How do I plan my timeline if Substack is sponsoring my H-1B petition?
USCIS opens H-1B registration each March, with cap-subject petitions taking effect October 1. If you receive an offer after the registration window, your petition waits until the next cycle, which means a gap of up to a year. Discuss bridging options with Substack's HR team, such as starting on OPT or TN status while the H-1B petition is prepared and filed.
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