Upwork Inc.
SeniorSoftwareEngineer
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.
“Senior Software Engineer at Upwork Inc.. Skills: backend services, platform architecture, tax calculation services, distributed services, APIs, integrations. lead the strategy, architecture, and evolution of tax calculation services that support business-critical compliance workflows across VAT, sales tax, and withholding.. primary focus on backend services and platform architecture, alongside contributions to frontend development.”
What You'll Achieve.
improving accuracy, reliability, and maintainability across diverse regulatory and transactional use cases.; enhancing system resilience, reducing defects, and accelerating issue detection and resolution.; strengthen platform integrity, compliance confidence, and overall business impact.
Industry & Context.
untangling complex business logic; Proactively identify systemic risks, ownership gaps, and process inefficiencies, and drive durable solutions
This role will require 3 days in office once we have an office open., This position will initially be employed through a partner to ensure a seamless hiring process while we establish the hub.
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Deep experience supporting backend architecture and operating Java-based services in production, including RESTful APIs, relational databases, AWS, and scalable service design., Experience contributing to frontend applications using Vue. js or other modern JavaScript frameworks., Demonstrated ability to lead ambiguous, cross-team initiatives and influence technical direction across multiple stakeholder groups., Fluent use of AI-enabled engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar to accelerate development, debugging, and documentation, paired with the judgment to validate outputs and share effective AI practices that improve team execution.
Nice to Have
Experience in tax, fintech, payments, or another compliance-heavy domain is valuable, along with the ability to learn complex business rules quickly.
What You'll Do.
and evolution of tax calculation services that support business-critical compliance workflows across VAT
primary focus on backend services and platform architecture
alongside contributions to frontend development.
untangling complex business logic
integrating third-party providers
and driving alignment across engineering
and compliance to deliver reliable systems for a global platform.
Drive cross-functional alignment on complex financial and compliance initiatives
translating ambiguous requirements into clear technical direction
and well-reasoned tradeoffs.
and evolve distributed services for payments and tax processing
and maintainability across diverse regulatory and transactional use cases.
Contribute to frontend application development using modern JavaScript frameworks
to support internal and customer-facing workflows.
Develop and operate robust APIs and integrations that scale with product growth
emphasizing performance
and operational excellence.
Integrate and manage external payment processors
and compliance services
enhancing system resilience
and accelerating issue detection and resolution.
Elevate engineering quality through testing practices
and effective use of automation and AI-assisted workflows to improve development velocity without compromising rigor.
Proactively identify systemic risks
and process inefficiencies
and drive durable solutions that strengthen platform integrity
compliance confidence
and overall business impact.
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Drive cross-functional alignment on complex financial and compliance initiatives; driving alignment across engineering, product, finance, tax, and compliance; lead ambiguous, cross-team initiatives and influence technical direction across multiple stakeholder groups
Process & Methodology
translating ambiguous requirements into clear technical direction, execution plans, and well-reasoned tradeoffs.
Full Job Description
Upwork Inc.’s (Nasdaq: UPWK) family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled. This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work. From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc. to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI and learn more about Lifted at Go-Lifted and follow on LinkedIn. As a Senior Software Engineer, you will lead the strategy, architecture, and evolution of tax calculation services that support business-critical compliance workflows across VAT, sales tax, and withholding. This role has a primary focus on backend services and platform architecture, alongside contributions to frontend development. It is a strong match for someone who enjoys untangling complex business logic, integrating third-party providers, and driving alignment across engineering, product, finance, tax, and compliance to deliver reliable systems for a global platform. Responsibilities: Drive cross-functional alignment on complex financial and compliance initiatives, translating ambiguous requirements into clear technical direction, execution plans, and well-reasoned tradeoffs. Design, build, and evolve distributed services for payments and tax processing, improving accuracy, reliability, and maintainability across diverse regulatory and transactional use cases. Contribute to frontend application development using modern JavaScript frameworks, including Vue.js, to support internal and customer-facing workflows. Develop and operate robust APIs and integrations that scale
Applying for this Senior Software Engineer role?
Most applicants get filtered before a human reads their resume. See if yours makes the cut.
How to Apply on Greenhouse
- Create a Greenhouse profile before applying — it saves time across multiple applications.
- Upload your resume as a PDF; the parser handles it better than Word.
- Answer all knockout questions carefully — wrong answers auto-reject before a human sees you.
- Enable email notifications to track application status in real time.
ANONYMOUS · UNFILTERED
What do employees actually say about Upwork Inc.?
Real rants from real employees. Read before you apply.