Software Engineer, Experimental Projects
Stripe · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $237,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Innovate and build prototypes rapidly.
- Full-stack development across multiple languages.
- Direct user collaboration for feedback.
- Shape future platform features.
- Work with leading financial tech.
About the role
About Stripe
Stripe is a financial infrastructure platform for businesses. Millions of companies—from the world’s largest enterprises to the most ambitious startups—use Stripe to accept payments, grow their revenue, and accelerate new business opportunities. Our mission is to increase the GDP of the internet, and we have a staggering amount of work ahead. That means you have an unprecedented opportunity to put the global economy within everyone’s reach while doing the most important work of your career.
About The Team
Stripe's Experimental Projects team is our in-house innovation lab where we rapidly transform ideas into working prototypes. We operate as an idea incubator, building and testing new concepts with real users, sometimes going from concept to functional prototype in just days.
What you’ll do
As a Software Engineer on the Experimental Projects team, you'll be at the forefront of innovation at Stripe, turning promising ideas into tangible solutions that could shape the future of our platform. You'll have the autonomy to identify opportunities, rapidly build prototypes, and work directly with users to validate and iterate on your solutions.
This role combines technical excellence with creative problem-solving – you'll work across our entire technology stack to bring ideas to life, sometimes in just days.
Your work will help us discover new ways to empower businesses worldwide, contributing directly to Stripe's mission of increasing the GDP of the internet. Whether it's creating new developer tools, exploring novel payment experiences, or inventing entirely new products, you'll have the freedom to experiment and the resources to make a significant impact.
Responsibilities
- Drive projects from ideation to implementation, taking ownership of the full development lifecycle
- Build full-stack solutions including intuitive web frontends, clean APIs, and robust backend systems
- Work across various technologies and languages (TypeScript, Ruby, Python, Java, etc.) based on project needs
- Collaborate directly with users to understand their needs and gather feedback
- Prototype and validate ideas quickly, pivoting or adjusting based on real-world usage
- Partner with teams across Stripe to integrate with existing systems and infrastructure
Who you are
We’re looking for someone who meets the minimum requirements to be considered for the role. If you meet these requirements, you are encouraged to apply. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.
Minimum Requirements
- 5+ years of professional, hands on full-stack development experience with languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Python, Go, or Java
- Excel at rapid prototyping while maintaining appropriate quality standards
- Demonstrate strong product intuition and user empathy
- Have experience building and shipping customer facing products from scratch
Preferred Qualifications
- Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-paced environments
- Have a passion for working on side-projects, open source, or similar self-driven initiatives you’re proud of
- Bring energy and enthusiasm that inspires collaboration
Hybrid work at Stripe
This role is available either in an office or a remote location (35+ miles or 56+ km from a Stripe office).
In-office expectations
Office-assigned Stripes spend at least 50% of the time in a given month in their local office or with users. This hits a balance between bringing people together for in-person collaboration and learning from each other, while supporting flexibility about how to do this in a way that makes sense for individuals and their teams.
Working remotely at Stripe
A remote location is defined as being 35 miles (56 kilometers) or more from one of our offices. While you would be welcome to come into the office for team/business meetings, on-sites, meet-ups, and events, our expectation is you would regularly work from home rather than a Stripe office. Stripe does not cover the cost of relocating to a remote location. We encourage you to apply for roles that match the location where you currently live or plan to live.
Pay and benefits
The annual US base salary range for this role is $190,400 - $285,600. For sales roles, the range provided is the role’s On Target Earnings ("OTE") range, meaning that the range includes both the sales commissions/sales bonuses target and annual base salary for the role. This salary range may be inclusive of several career levels at Stripe and will be narrowed during the interview process based on a number of factors, including the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and location. Applicants interested in this role and who are not located in the US may request the annual salary range for their location during the interview process.
Additional benefits for this role may include: equity, company bonus or sales commissions/bonuses; 401(k) plan; medical, dental, and vision benefits; and wellness stipends.
Hybrid work at Stripe
This role is available either in an office or a remote location (35+ miles or 56+ km from a Stripe office).
In-office expectations
Office-assigned Stripes spend at least 50% of the time in a given month in their local office or with users. This hits a balance between bringing people together for in-person collaboration and learning from each other, while supporting flexibility about how to do this in a way that makes sense for individuals and their teams.
Working remotely at Stripe
A remote location is defined as being 35 miles (56 kilometers) or more from one of our offices. While you would be welcome to come into the office for team/business meetings, on-sites, meet-ups, and events, our expectation is you would regularly work from home rather than a Stripe office. Stripe does not cover the cost of relocating to a remote location. We encourage you to apply for roles that match the location where you currently live or plan to live.
Key skills/competency
- Software Engineering
- Experimental Projects
- Innovation
- Prototyping
- Full-Stack Development
- API Design
- User Empathy
- Product Intuition
- Agile Development
- TypeScript
Skills & topics
- Software Engineer
- Experimental Projects
- Innovation
- Prototyping
- Full-Stack Development
- TypeScript
- Ruby
- Python
- JavaScript
- API Development
- Backend Development
- Frontend Development
- Startup
- FinTech
- Rapid Prototyping
- User Empathy
- Product Intuition
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight full-stack experience and rapid prototyping skills. Emphasize product intuition and user empathy.
- Showcase your projects: Detail any side projects or open-source contributions that demonstrate initiative and passion.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Expect questions on data structures, algorithms, and system design. Practice coding challenges.
- Understand Stripe's mission: Articulate how your work contributes to increasing the GDP of the internet.
- Ask insightful questions: Prepare questions about the experimental projects, team culture, and growth opportunities.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What does a Software Engineer on Stripe's Experimental Projects team do?
- As a Software Engineer on the Experimental Projects team at Stripe, you'll turn innovative ideas into working prototypes. You will drive projects from ideation to implementation, build full-stack solutions, and collaborate with users to validate concepts quickly.
- What are the minimum qualifications for the Software Engineer, Experimental Projects role at Stripe?
- The minimum qualifications include 5+ years of professional full-stack development experience in languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Python, or Java. You also need to excel at rapid prototyping, possess strong product intuition and user empathy, and have experience shipping customer-facing products.
- Can I work remotely as a Software Engineer for Stripe's Experimental Projects team?
- Yes, this role is available either in an office or a remote location. A remote location is defined as being 35 miles or more from a Stripe office. While you can come into the office for meetings, the expectation is you'd regularly work from home.
- What is the salary range for a Software Engineer, Experimental Projects at Stripe?
- The annual US base salary range for this role is $190,400 - $285,600. This range may be adjusted based on factors like experience, qualifications, and location. Additional benefits like equity and bonuses are also offered.
- What programming languages does Stripe use for their Experimental Projects?
- The Experimental Projects team works across various technologies and languages based on project needs. Common languages mentioned include TypeScript, Ruby, Python, and Java, alongside others like JavaScript and Go.
- How does Stripe balance in-office and remote work for hybrid roles?
- For office-assigned employees, the expectation is to spend at least 50% of the time in the local office or with users. This approach aims to balance in-person collaboration with flexibility for individuals and teams.
- What kind of projects can I expect to work on as a Software Engineer in Stripe's innovation lab?
- You can expect to work on projects that shape the future of Stripe's platform. This could involve creating new developer tools, exploring novel payment experiences, or inventing entirely new products, all with the goal of increasing the GDP of the internet.