Software Engineer – Backend (New Grad) – Block (Square)
Block (NYSE: SQ), formerly Square, is a financial technology ecosystem connecting sellers, consumers, and businesses through Square payments, Cash App peer-to-peer money transfers, and the TBD decentralized finance platform. Square processes $200B+ in annual payments for 4+ million sellers; Cash App has 50+ million monthly users sending money, investing in stocks, and buying Bitcoin. Block is building the future of money — from the point-of-sale reader on the counter of a local coffee shop to Bitcoin's Lightning Network protocol development. We are hiring New Grad Backend Engineers to join Block's engineering team building the financial tools that empower individuals and businesses.
Responsibilities
- Build backend services in Java and Go for Square's merchant payment processing platform — handling card-present and card-not-present transaction flows
- Develop Cash App P2P money transfer features — implementing instant bank transfer, debit card payments, and Bitcoin buy/sell/send APIs
- Design and implement relational database schemas in MySQL and Aurora PostgreSQL for Block's financial ledger and transaction systems
- Build internal APIs connecting Square's hardware (POS terminals, card readers) to Block's cloud payment processing backend
- Implement event-driven microservices using Kafka for real-time payment notification, fraud signal propagation, and financial reconciliation
- Deploy and monitor backend services on AWS using Block's Terraform infrastructure-as-code and Datadog observability stack
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
- Proficiency in Java, Go, Python, or Kotlin
- Understanding of payment systems, financial technology, or distributed systems concepts
- Solid CS fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, database design, and system design
- Interest in fintech, cryptocurrency, or building financial tools for underserved communities
Benefits
- Competitive salary with Block RSU equity and annual performance bonus
- Weekly Bitcoin salary contribution option for employees interested in crypto
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 401(k) with Block matching
- Generous parental leave (16 weeks) and fertility benefits