Lead Software Engineer

Optivolt; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage

Unlimited PTO

Pre-IPO equity package

Job summary

Optivolt is building intelligent solar systems in San Francisco, seeking a hands-on Lead Software Engineer to own the architecture and development of the software platform, including web applications, backend services, cloud infrastructure, APIs, device connectivity, and data.

You will lead from concept to production, shaping the technical direction, and collaborating with hardware teams to ensure reliable, scalable software that powers solar field operations and customer experiences.

Qualifications

• 5+ years building and shipping production software with backend, API, cloud, and web/mobile apps.
• Technical leadership with project experience from architecture to deployment.
• Experience hiring, mentoring, and developing engineers.
• Strong foundation in system design, relational databases, cloud infrastructure, testing, and security. Experience with TypeScript, React, Python, or Ruby.
• Excellent communication and ownership; able to operate independently in a fast-moving startup.
• Bachelor’s in CS or Engineering or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead software engineering and architectural direction across the platform.
• Own delivery across the stack from concept through production, delivering cloud services, APIs, data infrastructure, and web/mobile apps.
• Build reliable installer/customer experiences; optimize system design, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with firmware and electrical engineering teams on device connectivity and telemetry.
• Set engineering standards for architecture, code review, testing, security, and deployment.
• Scale the platform as deployments grow; improve data quality and observability.
• Lead production troubleshooting and root cause analysis across apps, services, and device integrations.
• Support pilots and new product launches with field insights guiding development.
• Build and mentor the software team; hire, coach, and foster ownership.
• Work with leadership to prioritize roadmaps and communicate tradeoffs.

Skills

5+ years experience

Backend services

APIs

Cloud infrastructure

Web/mobile apps

TypeScript

React

Python

Ruby

Security

Education

Bachelor’s in Computer Science

Tools

Job description

About Optivolt

Optiolt’s mission is to overshoot humanity’s energy supply by reimagining solar.

America is at an inflection point. We need reliable energy fast. The grid is aging. And solar, the only technology that deploys quickly enough, is still constrained by technology frozen in time.

To close this gap, we build intelligent solar systems that think and adapt to real world conditions. Optivolt solar systems understand the sun, the weather, shading, harsh conditions, and optimize energy flow in real time. Every Optivolt panel is designed with an aerospace power electronics brain sealed inside to make solar more powerful and cost effective than ever in any condition.

The next step is putting it everywhere. In the home as Optivolt Home Solar and in the field as Optivolt Solar Fields. Hyper performant, controllable, reliable solar that works for everyone, everywhere.

Our Team & Traction

Optivolt is a team of some of the best builders and doers in the world, drawing from incredible talent pools in aerospace, electrical engineering, design-led organizations. We ultimately will win by designing and building the world’s best solar energy products.

But chiefly important, our organization is a lab for those devoted to solving some of the toughest problems in energy. Everyone is expected to contribute to the mission meaningfully. Clear communication, rapid iteration, and strong work ethic is the floor for anyone on our team.

To date we’ve shipped over 20,000 units and have companies worth billions of dollars relying on our solar architecture.

Why we are looking for you

Critical to this mission is ensuring that Optivolt’s fleet expands reliability through world class software. Optivolt is not just hardware. Our systems stream data and controls in real time, transforming the roof and solar field into a new experience for every solar field operator, installer, and owner.

As Optivolt’s Lead Software Engineer, you are a hands‑on technical authority who owns the architecture and development of Optivolt's software platform, spanning web applications, backend systems, cloud infrastructure, APIs, device connectivity, and data.

What you’ll do

• Lead software engineering at Optivolt. Shape our technical direction and build the systems that connect our solar hardware, installers, and customers for years to come.
• Own delivery across the stack. Stay hands‑on from concept through production, turning business needs and field feedback into reliable cloud services, APIs, data infrastructure, and web and mobile applications.
• Build an exceptional installer and customer experience. Make system design, commissioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting intuitive and efficient.
• Build reliable connections between hardware and software. Partner with firmware and electrical engineering teams on device communication, telemetry, and remote diagnostics.
• Set the engineering standard. Establish practical approaches to architecture, code review, testing, security, documentation, and deployment.
• Scale our platform as deployments grow. Improve system performance, data quality, and observability while keeping infrastructure manageable and costs in check.
• Lead production troubleshooting and root cause analysis. Resolve issues across applications, services, and device integrations, and turn lessons into lasting improvements.
• Support pilots and new product launches. Validate software against real operating conditions and use field insights to guide development.
• Build and mentor the software team. Help hire strong engineers, provide technical guidance, and create a culture of ownership and collaboration.
• Work closely with company leadership and cross‑functional teams. Prioritize the roadmap, communicate tradeoffs, and balance delivery speed with long‑term reliability.
• Bring clarity to ambiguity and prioritize ruthlessly. Make sound decisions with incomplete information, navigate competing demands, and keep the team focused on the highest‑impact work.

What we’re looking for

• Software engineering experience: 5+ years building and shipping production software, with strong hands‑on experience across backend services, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and web or mobile applications.
• Technical leadership: Experience leading projects from architecture through deployment, making practical technical decisions, and owning production reliability.
• Team building: Experience hiring, mentoring, and developing engineers and establishing effective engineering practices.
• Technical expertise: Strong foundation in system design, relational databases, cloud infrastructure, testing, and security. Experience with TypeScript, React, Python, or Ruby.
• Communication & ownership: Able to explain technical tradeoffs clearly, collaborate across disciplines, and operate independently in a fast‑moving startup.
• Education: Bachelor’s in Computer Science (Optional), Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred skills

• Experience with connected hardware, IoT, device telemetry, or time‑series data.
• Familiarity with solar, energy storage, or other energy systems.
• Experience building mobile applications or software used by field teams.

Additional requirements

• Willingness to work extended hours as needed to support critical milestones
• Everyone at Optivolt is required to participate in on call support for customers
• Must be based in San Francisco, CA

Pay and benefits

The estimated starting base salary range for this role is $160K-220K depending on level, location and experience, plus a generous pre‑IPO equity package

Other benefits include comprehensive health coverage, unlimited PTO, plus extra fun perks!