At Affirm, we exist for the moments that matter—giving people a clear, predictable way to pay over time, with no hidden fees, no surprises, and no tradeoffs on what matters most.
We are looking for a Staff Machine Learning Engineer to be the technical leader building high-quality production-grade models powering credit lending decisions in countries across Europe and in Australia. You will use novel ML techniques and rich data representations to predict repayment behavior and optimize how we offer loans to our borrowers. In this role, you will help shape the future of how machine learning fuels Affirm’s global expansion. You'll partner with engineering, product, and risk leaders to design, implement, and scale advanced ML solutions that drive critical capabilities across the company. You will mentor engineers, bring clarity to complex, ambiguous problems, and contribute to a cohesive long-term ML strategy.
What you’ll do
- You will be responsible for setting technical strategy for your team on a year-long time scale, and help your team tie it together with critical, business-impacting projects.
- You will collaborate with ML Platform, product, engineering, and risk leadership to shape long-term modeling capabilities needed for scalable international expansion.
- You will act as a force-multiplier for your team through your definition and advocacy of technical solutions and operational processes.
- You will foster a culture of quality and ownership on your team by setting code review and design standards.
- You will help develop talent on your team by providing feedback and guidance, and leading by example.
What we look for
- 8+ years of experience researching, designing, deploying, and operating large-scale, real-time machine learning systems. A relevant PhD can count for up to 2 YOE.
- Strong Python skills and experience writing production-quality code.
- Experience building and evaluating models for tabular classification problems (including gradient-boosted decision trees like LightGBM/XGBoost, and deep learning frameworks like PyTorch).
- Experience working with distributed data processing or parallel compute frameworks (e.g. Spark, Ray).
- Experience with ML lifecycle tooling for training orchestration, experimentation, and model monitoring (e.g., Kubeflow, Airflow, MLflow).
- Proficient in using AI-powered developer tools (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, Cursor) to accelerate the model development lifecycle.
- Strong engineering skills and the ability to provide hands-on technical leadership while working with our code and architecture.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills that support effective collaboration with our global engineering team.
Total rewards
We believe the people building honest financial products at Affirm should share in its success. That's why our total rewards are designed to support your health, growth, financial well-being, and future.
In service of our mission, we reward employees through a combination of base pay, equity (from parent company), and comprehensive benefits.
Base Pay Grade - P
365,000 zł - 485,000 zł
Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.
Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents). In addition, the employees may be eligible for equity rewards offered by Affirm Holdings, Inc. (parent company).
Base pay ranges and placement within those ranges are determined based on several factors, including role, experience, and job-related skills.
In addition to base pay, all employees in this role are eligible to receive equity from the parent company each year. This means as Affirm’s parent company grows, employees have the opportunity to share in that growth financially.
Equity Grade - 5 (awarded in US Dollars)
Affirm Holdings, Inc. Equity Grade example
Equity grade: 5
New hire equity: $48,000-$72,000
Annual Refresh: $15,000
Reward equity: $0-$225,000
Affirm also provides flexible spending wallets to all employees for technology and wellbeing related needs, which are reimbursable up to 1390 zł per month.
In addition to your compensation, our comprehensive benefits are designed to support you and the people who matter most. Benefits include:
- Competitive paid time off, paid public holidays, and additional paid Away Days to rest and recharge.
- Comprehensive private healthcare through Lux Med's Platinum package.
- A MultiSport card to support your health and well-being.
- Learning and development programs to help you grow professionally.
- Family healthcare support through Maven and parental leave support through Parentaly.
- Mental well-being support through Lyra, including up to 12 confidential counseling or coaching sessions each year for you and your household members.
- Financial well-being support through Northstar, with unlimited access to Certified.
- Financial Advisors and planning tools at no cost to you.
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that foster connection and inclusion.
- Eligibility for creative tax benefits, subject to applicable law, role, and company policy.
Location - Remote Poland
The majority of our roles can be located anywhere in Poland.
**This job description is not a contractual document, and is not intended to have binding force.**
#LI-Remote
Remote-first with flexibility built in
Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company. Most roles can be done from almost anywhere within the country of employment. Some positions may occasionally require in-person work at an Affirm office, and a few are office-based due to the nature of the work. All new hires will be invited to attend an in-person onboarding experience.
Benefits designed for you
Our benefits reflect our commitment to care, transparency, and flexibility. Here are a few highlights:
- Health coverage at no cost: We cover 100% of premiums for employees and their dependents.
- Spending stipends: Monthly stipends support your tech setup, and the ability to choose health and wellness options that are right for you.
- Time off to recharge: Flexible time off and generous holiday calendars help you rest when you need to.
- Own a piece of what you build: Our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) lets you buy Affirm stock at a discount.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive interview process, including accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you need support, we’re happy to help.
For positions based in San Francisco or Los Angeles: Affirm considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, as required by law.
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