Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Menlo Park, CA

INTRODUCTION

Join us in building the future of finance. Our mission is to democratize finance for all. An estimated $124 trillion of assets will be inherited by younger generations in the next two decades. The largest transfer of wealth in human history. If you’re ready to be at the epicenter of this historic cultural and financial shift, keep reading.

ABOUT THE JOB

Senior Software Engineer, Backend

ABOUT THE TEAM + ROLE

We are building an elite team, applying frontier technologies to the world’s biggest financial problems. We’re looking for bold thinkers. Sharp problem-solvers. Builders who are wired to make an impact. Robinhood isn’t a place for complacency, it’s where ambitious people do the best work of their careers. We’re a high-performing, fast-moving team with ethics at the center of everything we do. Expectations are high, and so are the rewards. Robinhood’s engineering organization spans Crypto, Brokerage, and Core Engineering, each responsible for systems that are foundational to how customers invest and manage their money! These teams build and operate platforms for trading, custody, ledgers, reporting, payments, and shared infrastructure, with a strong focus on correctness, reliability, and customer trust. Engineers partner closely with product, design, data, and infrastructure teams to deliver software that performs at scale.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will design and build large-scale distributed systems that support real-time trading, balances, and platform capabilities. You will lead technically complex projects, contribute to architectural decisions, and collaborate with frontend and data partners to deliver well-structured APIs. Your work will directly influence system performance, operational safety, and long-term maintainability across core Robinhood products. This role is based in our Menlo Park, CA and New York, NY offices, with in-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week. At Robinhood, we believe in the power of in-person work to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and strengthen community. Our office experience is intentional, energizing, and designed to fully support high-performing teams.

• Build and evolve scalable backend systems, balancing performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability.
• Design, implement, test, and release product-facing features with strict correctness and availability requirements.
• Partner with frontend and data engineers to define and refine REST APIs that serve millions of customers.
• Lead large, technically complex projects from design through execution.
• Mentor junior engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and hands-on technical guidance.
• Identify opportunities to improve system performance, developer productivity, and operational risk.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• 3+ years of experience building low-latency, large-scale distributed systems in production environments.
• Experience designing and operating highly concurrent systems and well-structured REST APIs.
• Demonstrated ownership of large projects with sustained impact on a system or team.
• Strong technical judgment and the ability to prioritize work aligned with business and reliability goals.
• Ability to break down complex problems and deliver practical, high-quality solutions.
• Experience mentoring other engineers and contributing to technical direction on new initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Challenging, high-impact work to grow your career.
• Performance driven compensation with multipliers for outsized impact, bonus programs, equity ownership, and 401(k) matching.
• Best in class benefits to fuel your work, including 100% paid health insurance for employees with 90% coverage for dependents.
• Lifestyle wallet — a highly flexible benefits spending account for wellness, learning, and more.
• Employer-paid life & disability insurance, fertility benefits, and mental health benefits.
• Time off to recharge including company holidays, paid time off, sick time, parental leave, and more!
• Exceptional office experience with catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces.

COMPENSATION

In addition to the base pay range listed below, this role is also eligible for bonus opportunities + equity + benefits. Base pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. The expected base pay range for this role is based on the location where the work will be performed and is aligned to one of 3 compensation zones. For other locations not listed, compensation can be discussed with your recruiter during the interview process.

• Base Pay Range
• Zone 1 (Menlo Park, CA; New York, NY; Bellevue, WA; Washington, DC) $196,000—$230,000 USD
• Zone 2 (Denver, CO; Westlake, TX; Chicago, IL) $172,000—$202,000 USD
• Zone 3 (Lake Mary, FL; Clearwater, FL; Gainesville, FL) $153,000—$179,000 USD

If our mission energizes you and you’re ready to build the future of finance, we look forward to seeing your application.

Robinhood provides equal opportunity for all applicants, offers reasonable accommodations upon request, and complies with applicable equal employment and privacy laws. Inclusion is built into how we hire and work—welcoming different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences so everyone can do their best. Please review the Privacy Policy for your country of application.