Staff Software Engineer (5103)

About Blackhawk Network: Today, through BHN’s single global platform, businesses of all kinds can tap into the world’s largest network of branded payment solutions. BHN helps businesses grow revenue, increase loyalty, motivate and reward their teams, disburse funds and engage consumers. Branded payment solutions include the issuance and distribution of gift cards, egifts, corporate payouts and rewards, along with the technology to deliver these products in seamless, integrated ways. BHN’s network spans the globe with more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints. Learn more at BHN.com.

Overview: We are looking for an accomplished Staff Software Engineer to join Blackhawk’s Enterprise Systems Group. Our team is chartered with delivering innovative, highly scalable, and fault-tolerant back-office systems for inventory management, card services, approval/assignment workflows, and partner product distribution. As a Staff Engineer, you will be a technical anchor for our Python/Django and MySQL stack, driving the architectural evolution of our core in-house systems. The ideal candidate blends deep backend expertise with modern frontend experience (React), robust database design, and a track

Responsibilities:

• Architecture & Development: Lead the definition, design, and implementation of cutting-edge software using Python and Django. Drive the modularization of code, pattern-oriented architecture, and code reusability across enterprise systems.
• System Integration: Specify internal/external product interfaces, designing robust, secure RESTful APIs and service-oriented architectures (SOA).
• Database Leadership: Own the schema design, optimization, and data integrity of our MySQL databases, ensuring high performance under heavy enterprise workloads.
• Compliance & Best Practices: Ensure all solutions align with Enterprise Architecture specifications. Establish high standards for code coverage, comprehensive code reviews, and architectural documentation.
• Technical Leadership & Collaboration: Coordinate tasks and deliverables across QA, Operations, and Infrastructure teams. Partner with Business Analysts to minimize requirements ambiguity and provide technical guidance.
• Agile Advocacy: Champion Blackhawk’s software development methodology by driving Scrum/Agile best practices, continuous integration, and mentor junior/mid-level engineers.
• Innovation & AI Integration: Actively explore and thoughtfully integrate AI productivity tools to enhance development workflows, automate processes, and deliver measurable efficiency gains for the team.

Qualifications: Required Skills & Experience

• Experience: 6+ years of professional software development experience, with a proven track record in a Staff or Principal-level capacity.
• Backend Expertise: Deep, hands-on mastery of Python and the Django framework (including Django REST Framework for API design).
• Database Mastery: Advanced capabilities in MySQL (query optimization, indexing strategies, schema design, and performance tuning under enterprise-scale loads).
• Frontend Proficiency: Experience building modern user interfaces using React, alongside foundational web technologies (JavaScript, CSS, AJAX, HTML5).
• Software Engineering Fundamentals: Strong Object-Oriented Design (OOD) skills, deep understanding of architectural design patterns, and excellent grasp of concurrency and multithreading concepts.
• Environment & Tools: Extensive experience working in Agile/Scrum environments. Proficient with version control (Git) and automated CI/CD pipelines.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Proven self-starter who excels at managing multiple complex tasks, meeting tight deadlines, and navigating a matrixed corporate organization. Desirable Pluses
• Experience in the fintech, payments, or card services industries.
• Familiarity with legacy UI frameworks (ExtJS, jQuery) for occasional migration or integration tasks.
• Demonstrated experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, LLM-based refactoring) to optimize the software development lifecycle. We seek candidates who not only demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in emerging technologies but have also successfully implemented and utilized AI tools to enhance their work, improve processes, or deliver measurable results. Our teams embrace continuous learning and the thoughtful integration of AI to create meaningful impact – for our employees and the future of work.