Okay, I've searched for Software Engineer II roles specializing in merchant risk and platform development in Palo Alto, CA. I've filtered for full-time positions requiring 1-2 years of experience, and skills in AWS, Python, and Kubernetes. I have found 47 positions for you.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Software Engineer II role on the Merchant Risk Intelligence & Platform (MRIP) team at Affirm is fundamentally about creating robust backend systems that automate risk assessment for merchants across their entire lifecycle. This role is not just about coding—it's about enabling critical business decisions through scalable, reliable, and maintainable software that integrates smoothly within a complex ecosystem. The engineer will face challenges involving distributed systems, data-intensive workflows, and collaboration across multiple teams including product management, machine learning engineers, and analytics. Success means delivering high-quality APIs and platform capabilities that empower automated, data-driven risk management while maintaining operational stability and excellent developer experience for internal customers. The requirement for 1.5+ years of engineering experience with distributed systems, AWS, Kubernetes, and backend languages like Python or Kotlin indicates that the role demands both a strong foundation in software engineering principles and an ability to work in cloud-native environments. Further, the emphasis on writing clean, extensible, and well-tested code, plus participation in cross-functional collaboration and code reviews, reveals a culture valuing craftsmanship, shared ownership, and continuous growth. Navigating a large codebase and supporting on-call operations introduces complexity requiring sound problem-solving, rapid debugging, and communication skills. The engineer must balance building new features with maintaining reliability, all while aligning technical choices with business risk goals. Early performance will likely be measured by the ability to deliver components on time, support ML workflows effectively, contribute to operational stability, and demonstrate proactive growth through feedback and teamwork.

Company Analysis:

Affirm stands out as an innovative disruptor in the financial services industry focused on transforming how consumers access credit by emphasizing honesty, transparency, and user empowerment. Positioned as a fast-growing, technology-driven company, Affirm’s culture likely prizes innovation, technical excellence, and cross-disciplinary collaboration across remote and hybrid settings. Their remote-first approach signals flexibility but also demands strong self-management and communication from all team members. Employees at Affirm can expect to work in a mission-oriented environment where providing equitable financial products is core to the business model. The Merchant Engineering team’s role in enabling merchants to tap into Affirm’s network aligns directly with the company’s broader goal of seamless, scalable fintech solutions. For the Software Engineer II in MRIP, this means their work contributes to risk-managed merchant onboarding and ongoing health—crucial for sustainable growth and trustworthiness of the platform. The company’s openness about pay grades, equity, and comprehensive benefits reflects a transparent and people-centric workplace. Reporting lines suggest this engineer will be an individual contributor but deeply involved in collaborative technical teams with visibility into product and engineering leadership's priorities. The strategic imperative behind this hire is likely about scaling and refining merchant risk infrastructure to support Affirm’s expanding merchant base, ensuring risk mitigation keeps pace with growth. Thus, a successful candidate is one who thrives in a high-impact, dynamic environment where engineering rigor and business understanding combine to drive product safety and excellence.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you had to debug a complex issue in a large, distributed system. How did you approach it and what was the outcome?
• Behavioral: Describe a situation where you collaborated with cross-functional teams such as product management and data science. How did you ensure alignment and effective communication?
• Behavioral: Can you share an example of when you took ownership of a project or task outside your immediate responsibilities? What motivated you and how did it impact the team?
• Behavioral: How do you stay proactive in your learning and growth as a software engineer? Give an example of a time you sought feedback and used it to improve.
• Technical: How would you design and implement a scalable API for merchant risk assessment that integrates with existing ML models?
• Technical: What strategies do you use to ensure your code is well-tested, extensible, and maintainable in a large, evolving codebase?
• Technical: Explain your experience working with cloud technologies such as AWS and Kubernetes. How do you leverage these tools for backend platform stability?
• Technical: How do you approach debugging others’ code, especially when navigating unfamiliar parts of a complex system?
• Situational: Imagine you detect an anomaly in merchant risk data that might indicate increasing fraud but you don't yet have full information. How would you proceed?
• Situational: You are tasked with delivering a new feature in phases, but midway, priorities shift due to emerging business risk concerns. How do you manage delivery and stakeholder expectations?
• Situational: On-call rotation reveals intermittent failures affecting key merchant risk APIs. What steps do you take to identify, fix, and prevent future incidents?
• Company Fit: Why does Affirm’s mission to make credit honest and transparent resonate with you personally and professionally?
• Company Fit: How do you see yourself contributing to a remote-first engineering culture that emphasizes collaboration and cross-team partnerships?
• Company Fit: Affirm emphasizes both technical excellence and a people-first approach. How do you balance producing individual results with teamwork and community involvement?
• Candidate Questions: What are the biggest technical challenges the Merchant Risk Intelligence & Platform team is currently facing?
• Candidate Questions: How does the MRIP team collaborate with ML engineers to ensure that risk models are accurate and actionable?
• Candidate Questions: Can you describe the opportunities for growth and skill development for an engineer joining this team?