Software Engineer - Payments at Substack

San Francisco, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Mid-level (3 to 4 years), Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Technology, Media, PaymentsIndustries

Requirements

5+ years of non-internship professional full stack web software development using Node.js
Have a degree in Computer Science or have the equivalent industry experience
Independent and autonomous. We’re too small to micromanage, and expect that every person at the company owns their work and can be a leader
Experience with building payment processing systems and working with Stripe is an advantage
Take pride in building elegant and delightful product experiences. Substack works best when it gets out of the way so writers can focus on writing and connecting with their readers
Enjoy collaboration with a diverse group of thinkers while bringing our own unique experience and background to the team
Believe in Substack’s mission to build a better business model for writing

Responsibilities

With the support of the engineering team, develop the core Substack product for readers and writers. This is a dynamic organization with needs across the board. We expect that engineers will be able to jump into any area of the product, learn quickly and add value
Support and collaborate with other team members, including engineers, designers, writers, support staff, and many others
Own your work and deliver high-quality solutions from product concept and proposal to implementation, experimentation, and measurement
Work directly with customers to solve their problems. The entire company (CEO included) participates in customer support in order to drive empathy for our users and help us build better products
Optimize our payment front ends across web and mobile, and manage the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars in subscriber revenue

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

TypeScriptNodeExpressReactPostgresPayments

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Software Engineer - Payments role?

The cash compensation salary range for this role is $175,000 - $215,000. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and qualifications.

Is this position remote or hybrid?

The position is hybrid.

What skills and experience are required for this role?

The role requires 5+ years of non-internship professional full stack web software development using Node.js, a degree in Computer Science or equivalent industry experience, and independence as an autonomous worker. Experience with TypeScript (Node/Express, React), Postgres, and payment processing systems like Stripe is helpful.

What is the company culture like at Substack?

Substack has a small, dynamic team that values ownership, autonomy, collaboration across roles like engineers, designers, and support staff, and direct customer interaction including by the CEO. Engineers are expected to jump into any product area, learn quickly, and deliver from concept to measurement.

What makes a strong candidate for this Software Engineer position?

Strong candidates have 5+ years of Node.js full stack experience, autonomy and ownership mindset, ability to collaborate with diverse teams, and alignment with Substack’s mission. Experience with payments/Stripe and the tech stack (TypeScript, React, Postgres) is advantageous but not required.

Substack

Digital publishing platform for subscription-based content

About Substack

Substack is a digital publishing platform that connects writers and readers. It allows creators, such as authors, journalists, and chefs, to share their work through newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and videos. Creators can set their own subscription fees, ranging from $5 to $27 per month, enabling them to earn money directly from their content without relying on traditional publishing or advertising. Substack handles administrative tasks, billing, and technical support, allowing creators to focus on their writing. The platform also helps creators grow their audience, as a significant portion of new subscriptions comes from within the Substack network. Substack earns revenue by taking a percentage of the subscription fees, aligning its success with that of its creators. The goal of Substack is to empower creators to monetize their work while providing the necessary tools for managing and expanding their subscriber base.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2017Year Founded

$97.5MTotal Funding

ANGELCompany Stage

Consumer Software, EntertainmentIndustries

1,001-5,000Employees

Risks

Enterprise offering may lead to competition with established solutions, straining resources.

Elon Musk's acquisition interest could cause market speculation and investor instability.

Integration with Polymarket may expose Substack to reputational risks and regulatory scrutiny.

Differentiation

Substack empowers creators with a subscription-based model, bypassing traditional revenue streams.

The platform offers built-in marketing, aiding creators in growing their subscriber base.

Substack's tools support diverse content, including newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and videos.

Upsides

Spotify integration broadens podcasters' reach, potentially boosting subscribers and revenue.

Mobile editor launch enhances accessibility, increasing content output and engagement.

Enterprise offering partnership with The Free Press opens new revenue streams for Substack.

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