Promise modernizes and humanizes government payments. We are a comprehensive payments platform that increases revenue and efficiency for government agencies by making it easier to pay. We help residents navigate payments with dignity and ease and help them avoid the negative consequences of non-payment. Promise’s win-win services strengthen the bond between government agencies and the communities which they serve.

We need a technically-strong and values-oriented product development team to make this possible. We want people who are passionate about building technical solutions that are rooted in empathy, simplicity, and accessibility while being performant, scalable, and secure. You would be a foundational member of our small mission driven team, helping to build amazing customer-focused software from concept through implementation.

Company Overview

Promise empowers utilities and government agencies to create flexible, affordable solutions for individuals struggling with debt. Our innovative approach to payment plans and relief distribution significantly improves enrollment and recovery rates, helping individuals clear debts faster and reducing delinquencies for our partners.

We treat people facing financial difficulties with respect and dignity, providing the tools and resources they need to thrive. Our team includes experts from companies like Palantir, Google, Stripe , and esteemed government leaders.

Backed by over $50 million in funding from top investors – such as Reid Hoffman, Howard Schultz, Michael Seibel, Y Combinator, 8VC, The General Partnership, First Round Capital, Kapor Capital, XYZ Ventures, and Bronze Investments – Promise has been recognized as one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022,” “Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2024,” and Y Combinator’s #1 GovTech startup.

Role Overview

As the Engineering Leader for Promise’s Payment Plans team, you will own the technical direction and team leadership for our top revenue-generating business. The Payment Plans platform powers flexible, interest-free installment plans that help residents avoid penalties and utilities recover more efficiently — a true win-win.

You’ll lead the team responsible for scaling and evolving this product, ensuring it stays secure, user-friendly, and aligned with the dignity-first principles that define our mission. You’ll work cross-functionally to define technical strategy, drive product velocity, and ensure a high standard of engineering quality and reliability.

What You'll Do

• Lead and manage a team of engineers focused on delivering and scaling our Payment Plans platform.
• Define and own the technical roadmap, working closely with Product and Design to prioritize features and improvements that drive real-world impact.
• Ensure the platform is scalable, composable, and secure as we expand across government and utility partners nationwide.
• Build features that reduce friction for residents, from installment flexibility to automated reminders and personalized plan options.
• Stay hands-on and connected to technical details, helping the team debug, optimize, and ship with confidence.
• Identify opportunities to use AI and automation to replace inefficient manual processes and reduce reliance on support staff.
• Collaborate with Customer Success and Operations to ensure the platform meets performance expectations in the field.
• Set and uphold standards for engineering excellence, system reliability, and technical collaboration.

What Will Enable You

• 7+ years of experience building and scaling production software, with at least 2 years managing engineers or leading projects.
• Proven ability to own technical direction and outcomes — you can define a roadmap, align stakeholders, and deliver.
• Strong understanding of backend systems, system design, and secure architecture best practices.
• Experience integrating with legacy or third-party systems, ideally in a regulated, government, or fintech context.
• Ability to break down complex problems into actionable, scalable solutions.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where priorities shift based on real-world feedback.
• Passion for Promise’s mission and a belief that better systems can produce more equitable outcomes.
• Experience in the payments, government, or public infrastructure space is a plus.

Benefits and Work Environment

At Promise, we invest in our team’s well-being, growth, and sense of ownership.

• Equity for All: All full-time employees receive stock options to share in our company’s success.
• 100% Paid Health Coverage: We cover 100% of base medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.
• Flexible Hybrid Work: We collaborate in office at least three days a week to stay connected and aligned as a team.

Please note: Benefits are reviewed periodically and may be updated at the sole discretion of Promise.

Promise is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or military or veteran status. Additionally, the Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates. Promise is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, pregnant individuals, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable laws.

Promise engages in US government contracts and restricts hiring to US persons, which includes US citizens and permanent residents (e.g., Green Card holders). Additionally, candidates must reside in the US.

Promise is building a fully-featured payments platform with a modern Web stack: Python + NodeJS + TypeScript backend React + TypeScript frontend Serverless functions infrastructure SQL database storage