---
title: 'Senior Software Engineer at Passage'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-passage-passage-hq-wj2v9pmg2cp4'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Senior Software Engineer at Passage

- **Company:** Passage
- **Location:** Passage HQ
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2025-11-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/passage/c5e5583b-9176-472e-a7a4-b975d4e1703d

## 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.

## Who you are

You’re a mission-driven, ambitious individual who wants to win by doing good. You’re passionately curious about the world, empathetic toward others, and driven to create meaningful impact. You’re not afraid of a problem and see it as an opportunity. You’re a builder. You likely have a strength in either frontend or backend development. If you're more experienced in frontend, we value your eye for design and your talent for creating engaging user experiences. If backend is your area of expertise, we look for your ability to architect complex services and manage databases effectively. In both cases, we count on you to contribute thoughtfully to product decisions.

## What you will do

- Solve complex problems end-to-end.
- Design, develop, and maintain complex software applications.
- Lead the technical design and architecture of software systems.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop new features and products.
- Write clean, maintainable code in accordance with best practices.
- Participate in code reviews and provide feedback to improve overall code quality.
- Exhibit a strong sense of ownership in all aspects of your work.

Nice to haves

- 5+ years of varying experiences as a Software Engineer.
- 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 building systems, solving complex problems, and shaping how a company makes decisions, 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

C$100K to C$150K + 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
- [Principal Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-passage-passage-hq-h7ywwarrefd0) — 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
- [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