Job Overview
We’re looking for a Senior / Staff Backend Engineer (API) – Economy to join our Economy team. You will play a foundational role in architecting and evolving the systems that power how creators earn and how users transact across VRChat globally.
This role focuses on building high-integrity backend infrastructure that supports subscriptions, digital ownership, creator monetization, payment processing, and economic analytics at global scale. You’ll work primarily with Node.js and TypeScript, designing systems where correctness, auditability, reliability, and compliance are non-negotiable.
If you’re excited about building financial-grade systems for a thriving global creator ecosystem, this role could be the perfect fit.
About the Economy Team
The Economy team designs and operates the systems that power creator monetization and platform-wide transactions. Our work ensures creators can reliably earn income while the platform remains stable, sustainable, and built for long-term growth.
Our team operates with high velocity and high impact—without sacrificing work-life integration. We value technical excellence, mutual respect, and solving hard problems together.
We build and scale:
VRC+ subscription infrastructureCentral and avatar marketplacesFirst-party and creator-driven digital content systemsDigital credits, wallets, inventory, ownership, and subscription modelsCreator payouts and reconciliationMonetization events and purchase flowsEconomic analytics and reportingInternal and external tooling supporting creators and platform teams,What You'll Do:
Design and implement scalable backend services in Node.js and TypeScriptEnsure transactional integrity in high-volume economic systemsModel digital ownership, entitlements, wallets, and payoutsBuild and evolve systems supporting both first-party and creator-driven contentDrive refactors that improve maintainability and long-term platform evolutionParticipate in architectural discussions shaping the future of VRChat’s economy stackDesign reliable economic event representationsEnsure traceability across payment transactions and reporting systemsEnable subscription and marketplace analyticsSupport experimentation and feature iterationMaintain reconciliation accuracy and reporting integrityContribute to fraud detection and prevention systemsOwn services from development through deployment and monitoringImprove CI/CD reliability and release safetyWork within containerized environments (Docker)Contribute to Infrastructure as Code (IaC)Strengthen observability, monitoring, and incident response practicesOccasionally jump in to resolve critical production issues
,Senior-Level Expectations
Design and implement scalable backend servicesOwn systems end-to-end through productionImprove performance, observability, and operational resiliencePartner cross-functionally with Product, Design, Data, Finance, Trust & Safety, Infrastructure, and peer engineering teamsLead architectural initiatives across the economy stackShape long-term technical directionIdentify systemic risks and drive preventative improvementsMentor engineers and elevate engineering standardsInfluence and inform cross-team design decisions,Staff-Level Expectations (In Addition)
Bring credible experience designing and operating financial or high-integrity transactional systems at scaleArchitect cross-team economic platform primitives (e.g., entitlement models, payment flows, reconciliation frameworks, event contracts)Define long-term technical strategy for the economy stack, balancing scalability, compliance, and product velocityLead strategic architecture initiatives spanning multiple services or teams, and high stake external partners and integrationsMentor senior engineers and influence technical direction across the organizationInfluence cross-team design decisions at platform scale,Qualifications
5+ years of experience in backend engineering for SaaS, fintech, marketplaces, or online platformsDeep proficiency in Node.js and TypeScriptStrong experience with relational and non-relational databases (MySQL, MongoDB, Redis)Experience managing message queues, caching strategies, and WebSocket systemsProven experience building and maintaining external integrations (payment vendors, fintech platforms)Strong understanding of profiling, optimization tradeoffs, and observabilityExperience operating under PCI DSS, GDPR, and PII requirementsExperience building subscription engines, marketplaces, accounting systems, or invoicing workflowsFamiliarity with AWS, Docker, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as CodeComfortable navigating ambiguity across experimental and high-certainty requirementsExperience working in complex, evolving codebases,Bonus Points
Experience with event-driven or high-throughput transactional systemsExperience integrating with Steam, Oculus, Apple, or Google Play payment systemsExperience leading large-scale refactors or architectural migrationsExperience building internal operational tooling or creator-facing systemsFull-stack development experienceActive participation in creator economies or VRChat itself,Team Fit & Mindset
Independent and proactive self-starterLow ego, high ownership, and collaborativeGrowth-oriented and adaptableEmpathetic toward creators and end usersCalm and clear-headed during high-traffic events or critical incidents,Benefits
Work from anywhere — VRChat is a 100% remote companyFlexible working hours with core collaboration overlapHealth benefits401(k) for US employees & Group RRSP for Canadian employeesStock optionsGenerous paid holiday scheduleUnlimited/flexible vacation timePaid parental leaveVRChat is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a diverse, creative, and collaborative environment where anyone can contribute meaningfully to our roadmap and mission. If you’re a passionate engineer excited about building the economic foundation of the metaverse, we’d love to hear from you.
All job offers are subject to satisfactory referencing and background checks
