Q&A with Jianpu Ma: My experience as an Affirm Boomerang

Meet Jianpu (JP) Ma, a Senior Software Engineer and an Affirm Boomerang who left the company in fall of 2023 and returned in spring of 2024. We sat down with JP to learn more about what prompted his decision to leave and ultimately return, and what he’s most looking forward to as he continues his career with us.

What initially drew you to Affirm, and what prompted your decision to leave?

I joined Affirm in September 2019, and was working out of our San Francisco office at the time. What initially drew me to Affirm was its mission-driven focus on providing honest financial products and the opportunity to work on projects that directly influenced merchant’s pricing experiences. It also offered me a unique opportunity to work for a Bay Area tech company, which was new and exciting for me.

I decided to leave in September 2023 after four years at Affirm. During these years, I had the opportunity to witness the company’s growth from a startup to a well-established publicly traded company. I was fortunate to contribute to building a lot of 0 to 1 foundational pieces, taking things from concept to reality, and further scaling them up. Many of the artifacts I initially built, like the Financing Program and Pricing Portal, have now become integral to Affirm’s day-to-day operations. I felt a strong sense of accomplishment in being part of that journey. It was a tough decision to leave after all these years. But I felt that it was the right time in my career to explore new opportunities and challenges for both personal and professional growth.

What motivated your decision to return?

For me, I faced some complicated changing family situations, and the new role I had taken on didn’t align with my circumstance. What ultimately drew me back to Affirm was, above all, the incredible people and the strong, supportive culture. I also appreciate the flexibility of being remote-first, which allows me to balance personal and professional responsibilities more effectively. From a career perspective, I believe Affirm still offers a unique environment where everyone has equal opportunity to grow and advance based on merit and impact, which is something I deeply valued.

I’m particularly grateful for the support from my manager, Gokhan, and the leadership team, including Nitesh. Their understanding and guidance made my return to Affirm seamless and reaffirmed my confidence in the company’s leadership. It’s exciting to see what new opportunities are emerging at Affirm, and I’m energized by the potential for continued growth ahead.

How has your perspective on career growth and development evolved throughout your journey as a boomerang employee?

When I first joined Affirm, I was early in my career and primarily focused on developing technical skills. Stepping away and then returning has given me a broader perspective on career growth. I’ve come to realize that growth isn’t just about working hard blindly or chasing short term gains —it’s about finding the right environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally.? Since returning, I’ve placed greater emphasis on leadership development, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration. I now see career growth not only as a ladder of achievements, but as a continuous journey of learning, relationship-building, and expanding my influence.

What advice would you offer to other former employees considering returning to Affirm?

My advice would be to stay open-minded and connected. A lot can change when you leave an organization. I recommend reaching out to former colleagues for a chat to get a sense of what’s new and how things have evolved. And don’t worry, people are incredibly supportive.

How do you envision your long-term career trajectory within the organization now that you've returned?

I envision a long-term career trajectory focused on continuous growth and impact. I will leverage my previous experience and the new insights I’ve gained to take on increased leadership responsibilities and contribute to strategic initiatives within the Pricing domain. My team leaders and I have also outlined a clear plan for my growth and advancement, with regular check-ins to ensure we’re on track and aligned with our goals.

As one of the founding members of pricing engineering, I bring deep expertise and a comprehensive understanding of our journey—what we’ve achieved, where we stand, and the challenges ahead. I am committed to further establishing myself in this domain and expanding my impact. I have great confidence in the leadership team’s vision and am eager to tackle the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.