---
title: 'Principal Software Engineer at Passage'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-passage-passage-hq-h7ywwarrefd0'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Principal Software Engineer at Passage

- **Company:** Passage
- **Location:** Passage HQ
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-03-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/passage/382ccee9-76bf-45e7-b3a4-d10bac54ce62

## Job description

## Who we are

Who we are: We build technology that removes barriers blocking talent from opportunity, combining the latest advancements in AI with human judgment. How we expand access: Access isn't real if it's unaffordable. Through our sister company, Passage Funding, we provide financing for international students. What we believe: Access to opportunity should not be determined by geography, gender, or wealth. We reinvest a portion of our profits to support those cut off from education - including our Afghan program. Access is the product: We build AI that turns paperwork into decisions, and decisions into real outcomes. Our mission is bold but simple: by 2030, we aim to dismantle the barriers preventing brilliant minds from accessing the opportunities they deserve.

## The role

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help architect and scale the core systems that power Passage. This is a senior technical leadership role focused on building reliable, scalable systems while shaping the long-term technical direction of the company. You will work closely with engineering, product, and leadership teams to design systems that support Passage’s AI-driven platform and global operations. You will take ownership of complex technical problems, define architectural standards, and help ensure our systems remain reliable, secure, and scalable as the company grows. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving deep technical problems while also influencing engineering culture and technical strategy across the organization.

## What you will do

Architect core systems

- Design and evolve the architecture of Passage’s core platform
- Build scalable backend services that support admissions automation, financial systems, and operational workflows
- Ensure systems are reliable, secure, and capable of supporting global scale

Lead complex technical initiatives

- Own the design and implementation of large engineering initiatives
- Break down complex problems into clear technical solutions
- Guide teams through major architectural decisions

Establish engineering standards

- Define best practices for system design, testing, performance, and reliability
- Improve engineering workflows and development processes
- Ensure high-quality, maintainable code across the platform

Partner across the company

- Work closely with product, data, and operations teams to understand business needs
- Translate product requirements into scalable technical solutions
- Help leadership understand technical trade-offs and long-term architecture decisions

Mentor and elevate the engineering team

- Mentor engineers across the organization
- Review system designs and provide technical guidance
- Help cultivate a high-ownership, high-quality engineering culture

## Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field
- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience
- Deep experience designing and building scalable backend systems
- Strong programming skills in modern backend languages (such as Python, TypeScript, Go, or similar)
- Experience working with distributed systems and cloud infrastructure
- Strong system design and architectural thinking
- Experience leading complex technical initiatives across multiple teams
- Ability to operate independently and make high-impact technical decisions in a fast-moving environment

## Nice to have

- Proficient in Python, Django, TypeScript, and React.
- Experience with cloud platforms such as GCP is a plus.
- Deep knowledge of software design patterns and architecture.
- Strong understanding of database design and development.
- Bachelor degree or higher in computer science or related field

Location Passage operates with an in-office working model. Candidates must be based in Toronto or open to relocating and working five days per week in our Toronto office.

Ready to join us? We are building a company designed to expand access to life-changing opportunities around the world.

If you are excited about solving hard technical problems, building systems with global impact, and shaping the engineering direction of a mission-driven company, we would love to meet you.

Note: Artificial intelligence may be used in the screening or assessment of applicants.

If your experience does not match every requirement but you believe you can thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.

## Compensation

Above C$200K + Offers Equity

## About Passage

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Passage is a Talent Success Platform that matches international students with PGWP-eligible Canadian programs aligned with labour-market shortages, finances tuition and living costs, and supports students through graduation and employment.
- **Entity Type**: Private (funding stage not disclosed)
- **Headquarters**: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Martin Basiri (CEO), Saif Iqbal (CTO) [ca.linkedin.com](https://ca.linkedin.com/company/passagehq)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Education technology and student finance
- **Target customers**: International students from 100+ countries seeking Canadian education and post-graduation work pathways; Canadian public colleges and universities (DLIs)
- **Mission**: "A public commitment to change one million lives by the start of 2030" [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)

## Products & Services
- **Match**: AI-guided intake platform that routes international talent into Canadian programs aligned with verified Government of Canada labour shortages, screened for PGWP eligibility [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)
- **Finance**: Loans up to C$65,000 at 11.95% fixed APR for tuition and first-year living costs, underwritten using program, profile, and outcome signals rather than traditional credit history [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)
- **Stay**: End-to-end support from pre-arrival study-permit guidance through on-the-ground academic and settlement help, job search, and PGWP-eligible placement [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)
- **Afghan Program**: A dedicated initiative launched in 2024 to fund and admit up to 100 Afghan women through Canadian university and college programs [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available
- **Key Metric**: Total funding not disclosed; team size of ~16 employees (as of early 2026) [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/passage-passagecom)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not listed in available sources
- **Growth Signals**: Launched in 2023 with first cohorts arriving in 2024; active hiring across operations, finance, and engineering globally; expansion into onshore and offshore pathways for students from Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Integrated model**: Combines matching, financing, and post-graduation support in one platform – unlike loan-only or recruitment-only alternatives.
- **Alternative underwriting**: Uses education and outcome signals instead of cross-border credit history, enabling financing for students traditionally priced out.
- **Labour-market alignment**: Programs selected based on verified Canadian shortages, increasing employability and PGWP success.
- **AI-driven consistency**: Policy enforcement, document validation, and audit trails ensure every applicant receives the same care [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/).

## Strategic Focus
- Scale the platform to serve more international talent and expand the network of Canadian partner institutions.
- Grow the lending book while maintaining low default rates via outcome-linked financial model.
- Build technology infrastructure (data platform, engineering) to support automated intake and policy application.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Direct, measurable impact on access to education and career opportunities for underserved international talent.
- **Small, ambitious team**: 16 employees in Toronto with a flat structure; roles in product, operations, finance, and law [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/passage-passagecom).
- **Work policy**: Hybrid/on-site at Toronto HQ for most roles; some remote positions available for global acquisition coordinators and growth leads in specific regions [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/).
- **Open roles**: Currently hiring for Business Operations Associate, Credit Strategy Analyst, Director of Data, Principal/Senior/Staff Software Engineer, Staff Analytics Engineer, and global growth/acquisition roles [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/passage-passagecom/jobs).
- **Engineering culture**: Emphasis on using AI to automate repetitive tasks so the team focuses on human-centric support; modern stack with data-driven decision-making.

## Sources
1. [passage.com](https://www.passage.com/)
2. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/passage-passagecom)
3. [ca.linkedin.com](https://ca.linkedin.com/company/passagehq)

## Other roles at Passage

- [Senior Marketing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-marketing-engineer-passage-toronto-c1xjtwedtdpx) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Analytics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-analytics-engineer-passage-toronto-30tb82f8adh7) — Toronto, Canada
- [Global Growth Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/global-growth-lead-passage-india-pkf2abavmkw2) — India
- [Senior Accountant / Finance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-accountant-finance-manager-passage-passage-hq-7as3n1v5dc33) — Passage HQ
- [Director of Finance](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-finance-passage-passage-hq-n7mg1fdt7196) — Passage HQ
- [Staff Analytics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-analytics-engineer-passage-passage-hq-8gdmbfyccxvb) — Passage HQ
- [Director of Data](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-data-passage-passage-hq-apdmc8ym2w47) — Passage HQ
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-passage-passage-hq-wj2v9pmg2cp4) — Passage HQ
- [Global Acquisition Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/global-acquisition-coordinator-passage-india-3tm3gt5fe30b) — India
- [Global Acquisition Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/global-acquisition-coordinator-passage-nigeria-sm4mdx5df6bj) — Nigeria