Job Title: Software Engineer, Backend & AI Systems

Location: San Francisco, CA (Onsite)

Team: Engineering

Partner: A pioneering AI company building autonomous systems for growth marketing, backed by Quiet Capital.

About Our Hiring Partner

Our hiring partner is redefining the future of digital growth by building the AI Operator—a system designed to autonomously manage and optimize advertising spend with the precision of high-frequency trading. Their technology replaces traditional, manual agency processes, delivering a dramatic 20-50% efficiency upside for their clients.

Already managing critical spend for global e-commerce leaders, the company is on a clear trajectory to scale its autonomous volume into the billions. As an early-stage team based in San Francisco, they are assembling a group of exceptional engineers to build the core technology that will transform a massive industry. This is a foundational opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a company applying quant rigor to a ubiquitous business challenge.

Why This is a Foundational Opportunity

1. Build from the Ground Up: As an early engineer, you will have an outsized impact on the product, culture, and technical direction of the company.
2. Solve High-Stakes Problems: Your work will directly influence the P&L of major brands, building systems that autonomously manage significant advertising budgets.
3. Ownership & Autonomy: This isn't about ticking off tasks. You will own ambiguous, complex problems from conception through to deployment and iteration.
4. SF-Based Innovation: Join a concentrated, high-agency team in San Francisco, contributing to one of the most ambitious San Francisco startup jobs in the AI and fintech crossover space.

About the Role

We are looking for a high-agency Software Engineer with a backend focus to own core product features end-to-end. You are not here to pick up tickets from a backlog. You are here to solve ambiguous engineering problems that directly impact client outcomes. One week you might build a real-time anomaly detection system; the next, you could architect a parameter-tuning engine for our AI models.

We seek first-principles thinkers obsessed with building high-quality software and curious about the behavior of complex, autonomous systems. If you thrive on independence and building from scratch, this role is for you.

What You'll Do

1. Own Features End-to-End: Translate abstract product requirements into shipping code. You will be responsible for designing data models, writing backend logic, and shipping APIs for capabilities like creative fatigue detection or root cause analysis engines.
2. Work Across the Stack: While focused on backend systems, you will engage across the technology stack—from database design and infrastructure configuration to frontend tweaks—to ensure value is delivered.
3. Scale Our Intelligence: Collaborate directly with ML engineers to productionize mathematical insights, turning experimental scripts into robust, scalable systems that operate reliably 24/7.
4. Drive System Design: Make key architectural decisions that affect the scalability, resilience, and performance of our autonomous platform.

Who You Are

1. A Proven Builder: You have 2-5 years of professional experience building and shipping software in a team environment. You have taken features from idea to production and supported them.
2. Intensely Curious: You possess a deep desire to understand how things work. You don't just use tools; you investigate their trade-offs. You likely tinker with side projects or explore new technologies for fun.
3. An Independent Thinker: You are proactive and don't wait for perfect specifications. You identify problems, propose solutions, and build prototypes to validate your ideas.
4. Language Agnostic: You are proficient in at least one modern backend language (e.g., Python, Go, Java) and are adept at learning new technologies as needed.

Bonus Points

1. Math/Stats Interest: You have an appreciation for or curiosity about how probability, statistics, and mathematical models influence system design and decision-making.
2. AI-Native Workflow: You are comfortable using modern AI-powered development tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code) to accelerate and enhance your engineering work.

Compensation & Benefits

This role offers a competitive package reflective of the significant impact and ownership expected.

1. Salary: $130,000 – $180,000
2. Equity: A significant early-stage equity package.
3. Relocation: Support provided for candidates moving to the Bay Area.
4. Daily Meals: Lunch provided daily, with optional dinner.
5. Comprehensive Benefits: Includes full health, dental, and vision coverage, alongside an unlimited PTO policy.

Apply Now

If you are a builder who thrives on autonomy, loves tackling ambiguous problems, and wants to shape the core technology of a rapidly scaling AI company, we encourage you to apply. This is a standout opportunity among San Francisco startup jobs for engineers seeking true ownership and foundational impact.