Senior Software Engineer - (Backend) App Factory
At Kikoff, we are redefining how people build financial confidence - helping millions of Americans establish credit, access smarter products, and reach their financial goals.
We are launching a new initiative: a small, high-leverage incubation team focused on exploring and validating new product verticals that will shape the future of Kikoff. Operating like a startup within the company - fast-moving, experimental, and deeply aligned with Kikoff’s broader mission, this team blends deep platform engineering with 0 to 1 product execution. The team is responsible for Kikoff’s app factory, the foundations that enable rapid app creation and experimentation, while simultaneously using it to build, test, and refine new product ideas that will define Kikoff’s next chapter.
We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer who is excited to build from zero, driving both product and platform outcomes. You’ll:
Architect and ship the first version of a new 0 to 1 product - from concept to launch.
Design and own reusable systems, growth tooling, and experimentation infrastructure that accelerate iteration across this and future Kikoff verticals.
Balance speed with foundation - knowing when to move fast to learn, and when to invest in the right abstractions to scale.
This is a rare opportunity to incubate new businesses within a fast-growing fintech, while building the technical backbone that will power Kikoff’s next generation of products. If you thrive on blank-canvas building, love solving ambiguous problems, and care equally about building things right and getting things into users’ hands fast, you’ll fit right in.
What you’ll be doing
Design and implement core APIs, growth automation services, and backend systems that power new product verticals.
Build flexible, scalable Rails architectures that balance iteration speed with long-term maintainability.
Build flexible, reusable microservices shared across Kikoff’s product ecosystem
Partner with product and data to set up experimentation infrastructure, metrics pipelines, and event tracking.
Own end-to-end integrations and services that make new products possible.
Contribute to internal tooling and shared libraries that improve developer productivity and system observability.
Help define Kikoff’s backend platform strategy - enabling future 0 to 1 initiatives to spin up faster and safer.
What we’re looking for
4+ years of experience building and scaling production systems, ideally in Ruby on Rails.
Solid grasp of system design, API development, and data modeling.
Comfort working across the stack and collaborating closely with mobile and product teams.
Excited by fast iteration, ownership, and helping shape platform foundations for future products.
Experience balancing iteration speed with clean architecture and testing discipline.
Strong product sense - you care about the “why” behind features as much as the “how.”
Entrepreneurial mindset - thrives in ambiguity, takes initiative, and loves turning ideas into working systems.
Kikoff: A FinTech Unicorn Powering Financial Progress with AI
At Kikoff, our mission is to provide radically affordable financial tools to help consumers achieve financial security. We're a profitable, high growth FinTech unicorn serving millions of people, many of whom are building credit or navigating life paycheck to paycheck. With innovative technology and AI, we simplify credit building, reduce debt, and expand access to financial opportunities to those who need them the most. Founded in 2019, Kikoff is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by top-tier VC investors and NBA star Stephen Curry.
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.
🏥 Medical, dental, and vision coverage - Kikoff covers the full cost of health insurance for the employee!
📈 Meaningful equity in the form of RSU's
🏝️ 20 days of paid time off per year — we encourage taking real time away to recharge and do your best work
💵 401(k) plan with a meaningful employer match to help you invest in your future
💰 Competitive pay based on experience consisting of base + equity + benefits
Location: Hybrid, 3 days onsite in San Francisco, CA.
Visa sponsorship available: Kikoff is willing to provide sponsorship for H1-B visas and U.S. green cards for exceptional talent.
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.