PayPal

Sr Manager, Software Engineering

PayPal • $178K — $265K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR any equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Experience leading engineering teams
  • Strong technical judgment with the ability to guide teams through complex decisions
  • Experience with large-scale distributed systems and modern architectures
  • Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to structure complex problems
  • Fluency in AI tools and their application in software development
  • Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills

Responsibilities

  • Manage multiple engineering projects and ensure successful delivery
  • Set operational targets and drive performance metrics around KPIs
  • Lead resolution of complex technical challenges affecting business objectives
  • Create and execute roadmaps for scrum teams to align with strategic goals
  • Collaborate with stakeholders across teams to shape and develop products
  • Drive robust engineering quality and operational excellence
  • Foster a culture of ownership and high-quality engineering practices

Benefits

  • Comprehensive choice-based programs supporting personal wellbeing
  • Generous paid time off and healthcare coverage for employees and families
  • Resources for financial security and mental health support
  • Flexible, balanced work culture with a hybrid model of work
  • Opportunities for career development and continuous learning
Full Job Description
Job Summary:
We're looking for a Senior Engineering Manager to help shape the future of Commerce at Venmo.

Millions of people already use Venmo to pay businesses, whether they're paying a local business in the Venmo app or using Pay with Venmo at checkout. And we believe there's a much bigger opportunity ahead.

Job Description:

Essential Responsibilities:
  • Manages multiple projects through direct reports and may directly manage individual software development projects. Ensures project delivery through supervision of costs, methods, and staffing
  • Sets operational targets that impact their group and drives operational rigor around engineering KPIs such as unit test coverage, uptime/resiliency targets, execution velocity
  • Responsible for the delivery of projects and continuous improvement that impact up to three domains
  • Leads the effort in resolving highly complex or unique technical situations that impact business success or addresses future concepts, products, or technologies
  • Creates the roadmap for multiple scrum teams. Responsible for turning a high-level operational strategy into a well-defined resourcing plan
  • Demonstrates perseverance in pursuing difficult, complex, or ambiguous goals or problems, applying advanced analytical thought and judgment.
  • Collaborates with direct team, managers in org, stakeholders, managers in other orgs and business stakeholders


Minimum Qualifications:
  • 8+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience leading others


Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications:

Venmo has always made payments between people simple and social. We want to bring more of that experience to commerce, making it easier for customers to discover and pay businesses they care about, and giving merchants better ways to reach and engage Venmo customers.

You'll own engineering for a big part of that experience. You'll partner closely with Product and Design to define what we build, set the technical direction with your engineering team, and turn ideas into products that operate at Venmo scale.

This isn't a role where everything is already mapped out. We have clear business goals and a strong foundation, but there are still important product and technical questions to answer. We're looking for someone who is comfortable with that ambiguity and wants to help chart the course.

What You'll Do

  • Lead and develop an engineering team responsible for building and scaling Venmo Commerce products used by millions of customers and businesses


  • Partner closely with Product, Design, Analytics, and business teams to identify customer problems, shape the roadmap, and turn ideas into products


  • Own the technical direction for your area, working with senior engineers and architects to make decisions that balance speed, simplicity, reliability, and long-term scale


  • Build a strong team through hiring, coaching, regular feedback, career development, and thoughtful organizational design


  • Give engineers clear ownership and the context and autonomy to make good decisions


  • Drive execution across complex initiatives, identify risks early, and help the team navigate dependencies and changing priorities


  • Maintain a high bar for engineering quality, reliability, security, and operational excellence


  • Make thoughtful trade-offs when there isn't an obvious answer and communicate those decisions clearly


  • Work across Venmo and PayPal when solving problems that span products, platforms, or organizations


  • Build a culture where people challenge assumptions, learn quickly, take ownership, and care deeply about the customer experience


  • Help the team use AI effectively in how we build software, from development and testing to debugging and operations, while applying good judgment about where AI adds value and where it doesn't


What We're Looking For

  • Significant experience leading software engineering teams and delivering complex products at scale


  • A track record of building, developing, and retaining strong engineering teams


  • Strong technical judgment. You don't need to be writing code every day, but you should be able to go deep when needed, ask the right questions, and guide teams through difficult architecture and engineering decisions


  • Experience building large-scale distributed systems and familiarity with modern mobile, web, and backend architectures


  • Experience taking products or major capabilities from idea through launch, iteration, and scale


  • Strong product instincts and a customer-first mindset. You think about the problem we're solving before the technology we're using to solve it


  • AI fluency and hands-on experience using modern AI tools in software development. You understand their strengths and limitations and can help a team adopt them thoughtfully to improve engineering velocity and quality


  • Comfort operating in ambiguity, bringing structure to complex problems, and adjusting as customer and business priorities evolve


  • Strong cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to build trust with Product, Design, business, and engineering partners


  • Clear communication and the ability to explain complex technical decisions to different audiences


  • A consistent track record of delivering on commitments without sacrificing engineering quality or the health of the team


Nice to Have

  • Experience with payments, fintech, or other highly available financial systems


  • Experience building consumer products at significant scale


  • Background in commerce, marketplaces, social products, or platform businesses


  • Experience building products or tools for merchants and small businesses


  • Experience working in both fast-moving and large-scale engineering environments


  • Experience leading teams across multiple locations or time zones


Subsidiary:
PayPal

Travel Percent:
0

The base pay for this role will depend on where you work and the relevant experience and expertise you bring. The expected range of pay for this role by location is:

Primary Location | Pay Range:
San Jose, California: ($196,500.00 - $291,500.00 Annually)

Additional Location(s) | Pay Range:
Austin, Texas: ($178,500.00 - $265,100.00 Annually)

Additional compensation for this role may include an annual performance bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation, as applicable.

PayPal does not charge candidates any fees for courses, applications, resume reviews, interviews, background checks, or onboarding. When making an application directly, we will never ask you to share passwords, one-time passcodes (OTP), or verification codes. Any such request is a red flag and likely part of a scam. All communication regarding your application will come from official PayPal email domains. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately. To learn more about how to identify and avoid recruitment fraud please visit https://careers.pypl.com/contact-us.

For the majority of employees, PayPal's balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.

Our Benefits:

At PayPal, we're committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can't do this without our most important asset-you. That's why we offer comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeing-physical, emotional, and financial-delivering meaningful value where it matters most. We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.

About PayPal

PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering more than 375 million consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy.

PayPal Careers

Joining PayPal now offers an unparalleled opportunity to become part of a leading global team of professionals dedicated to revolutionizing digital payments and financial services. As a beacon of innovation and diversity, PayPal is where your professional journey can reach new heights. Work You’ll Do At PayPal, we are committed to excellence in every aspect of our business, from the innovative solutions we provide to the inclusive culture we nurture. By joining our team, you will help shape the future of payments globally, working alongside some of the brightest minds in technology and finance. Transform the Financial Landscape Lead the charge in the digital payments revolution with PayPal, a company known for its leadership in technology and financial services. Our team at PayPal is at the forefront of digital innovation, making significant impacts across various industries and improving the way millions of people handle transactions daily. Engage with a Global Team Collaborate with over 20,000 dedicated professionals around the world who are experts in technology, finance, and customer engagement. PayPal’s commitment to growth and diversity is evident in our dynamic team environment where every voice is valued and every team member is empowered. PayPal Jobs and Employment Opportunities We are actively expanding our team and have numerous job opportunities that cater to a wide range of skills and experiences. Whether you’re looking for a full-time position, an internship, or leadership roles, PayPal offers a path for career advancement and professional development. Innovate and Grow Join PayPal and be part of a company that values innovation and leadership. Deliver targeted solutions and drive change across the financial ecosystem with a team that’s equipped with the best tools and resources. At PayPal, your career is future-proofed with endless opportunities for advancement and skills enhancement through our comprehensive training and development programs. Be Part of Our Culture At PayPal, we pride ourselves on a workplace culture that supports diversity, encourages professional growth, and fosters innovation. Our benefits package is designed to support the health, financial security, and well-being of our employees and their families. Explore PayPal Careers Discover the exciting career opportunities at PayPal, where we are hiring creative, curious, and motivated individuals. Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for professionals who are passionate about making a difference and ready to contribute to our team’s success. Stay Connected with PayPal Keep up to date with the latest career tips, industry insights, and company news—all from the people who work at PayPal. Personalize your experience by subscribing to job alert emails, tailored to your preferences, and see what exciting and rewarding opportunities await. Join Our Team Ready to take the next step in your career? Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and apply for a position at PayPal today. Engage with our professional network and become part of a company that’s leading the way in digital payments. SEARCH PAYPAL JOBS At PayPal, your ambitions lead you forward, and our collective innovation drives us all. Join us in making a difference in the digital payments landscape worldwide.
Learn more about PayPal
Size
30,900 employees
Market Cap
$77.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.2 billion
Founded
1998
5 Year Trend
+18.5%
Revenue
$21.4 billion
NASDAQ

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