Staff Software Engineer

Summary

Are you a systems-minded engineer who thrives on shaping technical direction, mentoring others, and driving impact at scale? As a Staff Software Engineer at Topstep, you’ll play a foundational role in guiding how we design, build, and evolve the systems that power our trader experience. You’ll work at the intersection of architecture, delivery, and product strategy leading cross-team efforts, defining long-term engineering patterns, and helping elevate the quality of both our code and our culture. This role is ideal for someone who brings a blend of hands-on execution and high-level vision, someone who’s excited to work across boundaries, challenge assumptions, and push for elegant solutions that scale with intention. Join us and help shape what engineering excellence looks like at Topstep.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and evolution of complex systems with a long-term, platform-wide perspective
• Drive high-impact engineering initiatives across teams, aligning architecture with business and product strategy
• Partner with stakeholders to identify technical opportunities, surface trade-offs, and make clear, strategic decisions
• Guide cross-functional delivery efforts—setting direction, unblocking teams, and ensuring consistency and quality at scale
• Invest in reliability, observability, and scalability across systems to enable faster iteration and resilient experiences
• Mentor engineers at all levels and help grow the technical leadership bench within the team
• Champion clarity in communication, technical writing, and cross-team collaboration
• Contribute to the culture of engineering at Topstep through thought leadership, shared practices, and community involvement

Required Qualifications And Key Competencies

• 8+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with demonstrated impact at a Staff or equivalent level
• Proven success leading architecture and delivery across multiple teams or systems
• Deep expertise in building scalable, distributed systems with a focus on performance, security, and maintainability
• Track record of influencing engineering culture through mentorship, documentation, and technical leadership
• Strong communication skills with the ability to distill complex technical ideas for a variety of audiences
• Comfort with modern DevOps practices, CI/CD tooling, and infrastructure as code
• A growth mindset and a bias toward action—balancing technical vision with pragmatic delivery

Company Culture & Perks

• Topstep is an engaging working environment which ranges from fully remote to hybrid. We foster a culture of collaboration with cameras-on during meetings and a robust Slack environment for communication.
• Nine (9) Company-paid Holidays and generous Family Leave. Paid time off is accrued monthly.
• Competitive 401(k) matching, health, dental, and vision insurance is offered for full time employees
• Vacations are encouraged with a bonus for taking 5 consecutive days. Employee referrals are bonused. Topstep offers a food and groceries budget and contributes towards health and wellness.

New Hire Base Salary Range

• $180,00-$250,000
• Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
• The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Topstep is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees and applicants are valued. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Interested in the role? Apply today with your resume and cover letter!