Lead Software Engineer

Intellect Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Intellect Group, a fast-growing fintech SaaS startup in San Francisco, is looking for a Lead Engineer to spearhead the design and development of scalable software systems and AI-powered applications. This role emphasizes architecture definition, technical initiatives, and mentorship of junior engineers. Candidates should have strong expertise in Python and Go, with hands-on experience in AWS cloud infrastructure, LLMs, and RAG workflows. Join a collaborative startup culture that fosters career growth and innovation in fintech.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Lead Engineer, Staff Engineer, or Senior Engineer.
• Hands-on experience in building scalable backend systems and APIs.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of scalable software systems and AI-powered applications.
• Architect and build intelligent workflows leveraging LLMs and RAG.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, providing guidance and career development.

Skills

Python

Go

AWS cloud infrastructure

LLMs

RAG workflows

Mentoring junior engineers

Distributed systems

Job description

Are you excited by the opportunity to build intelligent software systems at the forefront of AI and fintech? Join a fast-growing fintech SaaS startup based in San Francisco that is transforming how businesses leverage automation, data, and AI-driven decision-making.

We’re looking for a Lead Engineer who can combine strong software engineering expertise with hands‑on AI experience to help scale both the platform and the engineering function. This is a high‑impact role where you’ll help define architecture, lead technical initiatives, and build cutting‑edge AI‑powered products from the ground up.

If you thrive in startup environments, enjoy ownership, and love building scalable systems with modern AI technologies — this role is for you.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of scalable software systems and AI‑powered applications.
• Architect and build intelligent workflows leveraging LLMs, RAG pipelines, and agentic AI systems.
• Develop and maintain backend services using Python and Go.
• Build and optimize cloud‑native infrastructure within AWS environments.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and leadership teams to translate business challenges into technical solutions.
• Drive engineering best practices across architecture, testing, deployment, and security.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, providing technical guidance, code reviews, and career development support.
• Help scale and shape the engineering culture as the company grows.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies into the product ecosystem.

What You Will Need

• Proven experience in a Lead Engineer, Staff Engineer, or Senior Engineering role.
• Strong proficiency in Python and Go.
• Hands‑on experience with AWS cloud infrastructure.
• Deep understanding of LLMs, Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI agentic workflows.
• Experience designing scalable backend systems and APIs.
• Previous experience managing or mentoring junior engineers.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, cloud architecture, and software design principles.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced startup environment.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

It’s a Bonus If You Have

• Experience working within fintech or SaaS startups.
• Exposure to vector databases, embeddings, and orchestration frameworks.
• Experience building AI‑driven automation tools or internal developer platforms.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure‑as‑code, and DevOps best practices.

The Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity opportunities
• Opportunity to work on cutting‑edge AI and fintech products
• High ownership and influence over technical direction
• Collaborative, fast‑moving startup culture
• Career growth opportunities as the engineering team scales
• Comprehensive benefits package and flexible PTO

This is a rare opportunity to join an ambitious fintech SaaS startup at a pivotal stage of growth, where your work will directly shape both the platform and the future of the company.

Apply now or drop me a message for more details!