Staff Software Engineer - Core OS Platform

Since we opened our doors in 2009, the world of commerce has evolved immensely, and so has Square. After enabling anyone to take payments and never miss a sale, we saw sellers stymied by disparate, outmoded products and tools that wouldn't work together.
So we expanded into software and started building integrated, omnichannel solutions - to help sellers sell online, manage inventory, offer buy now, pay later functionality, book appointments, engage loyal buyers, and hire and pay staff. Across it all, we've embedded financial services tools at the point of sale, so merchants can access a business loan and manage their cash flow in one place. Afterpay furthers our goal to provide omnichannel tools that unlock meaningful value and growth, enabling sellers to capture the next generation shopper, increase order sizes, and compete at a larger scale.
Today, we are a partner to sellers of all sizes - large, enterprise-scale businesses with complex operations, sellers just starting, as well as merchants who began selling with Square and have grown larger over time. As our sellers grow, so do our solutions. There is a massive opportunity in front of us. We're building a significant, meaningful, and lasting business, and we are helping sellers worldwide do the same.
The Role
Within Square's Mobile Device Platform organization, the SQUID ("Square Android") Product & Platform group provides the core OS that powers Square's Register, Terminal, and Handheld hardware products. Square takes pride in our product experience from manufacturing to end-customer experience, and this team works closely with partner teams throughout the hardware and software product lifecycle, from hardware manufacturing to the Android app teams. We work with external vendors on part selection and initial hardware bring-up, with a focus on customizing Android for Square's state-of-the-art security posture. This role will report to an engineering manager within the SQUID Product & Platform organization.
You Will

• Work on projects spanning new product introduction and maintaining current product line and platform features
• Work on AOSP integration, including managing upstream merges and maintaining Square-specific customizations
• Architect, develop and maintain platform OS system services (e.g. software updates, telemetry)
• Participate in all development phases from requirements gathering to production
• Work with multiple partners across the organization including product, program management, QA, EE, and other engineering teams
• Collaborate with teammates during the software design process and participate in code reviews
• Mentor engineers and help cultivate their career aspirations

You Have

• 10+ years of development experience
• Deep experience with Android Framework, System Services, and AOSP customization
• Experience with Android build systems (AOSP, Soong) and development tools
• Understanding of Android security model and SELinux
• Experience leading technically complex software projects and mentoring other engineers
• Programming experience in one or more of the following languages: C, C++, Java, Kotlin, and Python
• Experience integrating AI tooling into workflows
• An interest in building and shipping hardware products

Nice to have

• Experience with Linux kernel and driver development
• Experience debugging issues cross functionally
• Interest in tuning hardware and software performance
• Experience shipping consumer electronics products

We're working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is an equal opportunity employer evaluating all employees and job applicants without regard to identity or any legally protected class. We will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.
We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we're doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page .
While there is no specific deadline to apply for this role, U.S. roles are typically open for an average of 55 days before being filled by a successful candidate. Please refer to the date listed at the top of this job page for when this role was first posted.
Block takes a market-based approach to pay, and pay may vary depending on your location. U.S. locations are categorized into one of four zones based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.
To find a location's zone designation, please refer to this resource . If a location of interest is not listed, please speak with a recruiter for additional information.
Zone A:
$263,600 - $395,400 USD
Zone B:
$263,600 - $395,400 USD
Zone C:
$263,600 - $395,400 USD
Zone D:
$263,600 - $395,400 USD
Every benefit we offer is designed with one goal: empowering you to do the best work of your career while building the life you want. Remote work, medical insurance, flexible time off, retirement savings plans, and modern family planning are just some of our offering. Check out our other benefits at Block.
Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) builds technology to increase access to the global economy. Each of our brands unlocks different aspects of the economy for more people. Square makes commerce and financial services accessible to sellers. Cash App is the easy way to spend, send, and store money. Afterpay is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. TIDAL is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Bitkey is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services. Together, we're helping build a financial system that is open to everyone.