Staff Software Engineer – Financial Platform Issuing

About the role

Block’s Financial Platform Issuing team is looking for a Staff Software Engineer to own the card‑issuing platform that powers Cash App Card and other Block brands. You will work at the intersection of global card networks and Block’s issuing infrastructure, shaping specifications, certifications, and production behavior.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority on Visa, Mastercard, and American Express network specifications, message flows, and certification requirements.
• Lead complex, ambiguous engineering problems that span multiple teams and domains, delivering durable tooling and frameworks.
• Write production code, build certification tooling, and debug network messages down to the protocol level.
• Drive end‑to‑end network certification cycles and translate network mandates into pragmatic engineering decisions.
• Participate in on‑call rotation, incident response, and continuous reliability improvements.

Required profile

• Deep, current expertise with at least one major card network (e.g., Visa) and hands‑on experience building or operating a live direct network connection.
• Proven track record of leading technically complex, cross‑team initiatives and influencing technical direction.
• Experience creating reusable frameworks, standards, or tooling that other engineers adopt.
• Willingness to work with distributed teams across multiple time zones and participate in on‑call duties.

Required skills

• Visa network protocols and ISO 8583 messaging.
• Knowledge of Mastercard and American Express specifications.
• AI‑assisted engineering workflows and ability to evaluate AI‑generated output.
• Strong software engineering skills for highly reliable financial/payment systems.

What we offer

• Remote work flexibility.
• Medical insurance and family‑planning benefits.
• Flexible time off and retirement savings plans.