Staff Software Engineer, Internal Tools

Step into the heart of Shopify’s innovation as a Staff Software Engineer, building the internal tools that empower Shopifolk to create remarkable products for our merchants. Your work will shape Shopify’s culture by designing powerful, intuitive systems that simplify complex tasks and enhance workflows. Join us to build and scale innovative platforms like Mastery, our learning and development tool, and Flex Comp, our flexible compensation system. Key responsibilities Design and build scalable, reliable internal tools that solve real problems for Shopify teams. Lead technical architecture decisions, balancing immediate needs with long-term vision. Collaborate with product managers, designers, and stakeholders to understand user needs deeply. Mentor other engineers and elevate the technical quality of our internal systems. Champion best practices in software development while maintaining pragmatism to ship effectively. Qualifications Deep experience in building and scaling web applications, with a focus on developer experience and internal tools. Ability to turn complex workflows into intuitive, powerful interfaces. Strong systems thinking and confidence in navigating technical decisions. Clear communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences. Experience with Ruby on Rails, React, or similar technologies. Energized by understanding user needs and solving real problems. Enjoy balancing speed with quality and managing technical debt. At Shopify, we pride ourselves on moving quickly, not just in shipping, but in our hiring process as well. If you’re ready to apply, please be prepared to interview with us within the week. Our goal is to complete the entire interview loop within 30 days. You will be expected to complete a pair programming interview, using your own IDE. This role may require on-call work. Ready to build the tools that power Shopify from the inside out? Join us and make a significant impact across the company. About the discipline Engineering. It’s our DNA Engineering isn’t a department at Shopify. It’s our DNA. The engineers who thrive here care about the code, the system, and the merchants relying on both. They want hard problems and uncomfortable growth. They find solutions without waiting for permission. They ship weekly. They want commerce to work better for everyone. So does our founder, Tobi, who still codes and still shapes where this thing is going. They’re open source nerds. They pair program because two brains write better code than one. New tools, new models, new approaches. They experiment constantly. Most of what’s standard here started as someone hacking on something. They use AI like a keyboard, reflexively and everywhere, to clear the mundane and make room for thinking. And they work in the open. The fastest way to learn here is to watch someone better than you do the work. If that sounds like you, come build with us. Infrastructure engineering Infrastructure Engineers at Shopify build and maintain the systems that handle millions of requests per second and billions of dollars in transactions. At that scale, performance gains matter and weak assumptions surface quickly. Your systems power the experience for millions of entrepreneurs and buyers every minute of every day, including peak events like Black Friday. Engineers at Shopify spend the majority of their time actually writing code to build and improve infrastructure. You’ll solve problems that don’t exist anywhere else, with challenges that push what’s possible. If that lights you up, come build with us. Growth and rewards Mastery-matched compensation ~Mastery At Shopify, getting better at your craft and increasing your impact is how you grow. Twice a year, we assess both in our ~Mastery cycle, Shopify’s performance review. Achieving higher ~Mastery is a promotion, and when you earn a promotion your total rewards grow with it. Crafter and manager are equal paths, so you can pursue excellence in the craft you’re best at. Total rewards With Flex Comp, your Rewards Wallet gives you agency over your compensation mix. Adjust your mix of cash, restricted share units, and stock options (including programs like Long-Term Equity)* to where it makes sense for you, and mix it up anytime as life and priorities change. Buying a house? Want more skin in the game? Just experimenting? It’s your call. * Flex Comp program offerings vary based on location, role, and employment type. Full details are set out in our Terms & Conditions and related plan documents. Built for real life Room for the rest of your life Flexible work, remote by design A flexible vacation policy means most Shopifolk can take the vacation days they feel they need to recharge. If a change of everyday scenery is more your jam, Destination 90 means you can work from (almost) anywhere in the world for 90 days of the year. Your setup Your battlestation is your home base. Request the desk, chair, and AV gear you need to get shit done. Benefits You need ’em, we’ve got ’em. Our health and welfare benefits may include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance depending on your country. If you’re in a country without a package, you’ll receive a monthly allowance. We also offer mental health support for you and your dependents, including immediate and confidential services like counseling and coaching sessions. Family support We offer fertility benefits globally, along with paid parental leave to welcome a new family member. Applying to work here Show us your craft Read the candidate guide Life story The Life Story is how we understand the themes of your career journey so far, human to human. What you’ve learned, and how you made a difference. Show us the trophies and the bruises: the problems you’ve solved, the challenges you encountered, the decisions you made, and the lessons you learned along the way. Craft assessment Craft interviews Pssst. Extraordinary technical work speaks for itself. Skip the resume. Show us what you’ve built instead.