Ocean Advisor - Software Engineer

openreqstaffing; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity share

Health, dental, and vision

Laptop provided

Unlimited PTO

Flexible Fridays

15 days off per year

Job summary

Ocean Advisor is seeking a Founding Engineer to build and scale our production platform, spanning backend services, geospatial data pipelines, APIs, and cloud infrastructure. You will translate scientific models and business needs into robust software, shaping architecture and engineering standards from day one.

Ideal candidates have strong Python/Go/JavaScript skills, experience with cloud-native systems, and a growth mindset to thrive in ambiguity while delivering high-impact solutions for

Qualifications

• Production experience with one or more languages (Python/Go/JavaScript).
• Experience building cloud-based systems and backend infrastructure.
• Familiarity with APIs, containerized services, and IaC.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and evolve backend services supporting production workflows across analytics, geospatial intelligence, and operational systems.
• Architect and improve cloud-native infrastructure, including deployment workflows, containers, storage, observability, and reliability.
• Work across APIs, backend, infrastructure, and data services as platform needs evolve.
• Translate scientific models and business requirements into scalable production software.
• Help establish technical standards, patterns and development practices as the team grows.
• Contribute to secure, maintainable engineering practices across code and production operations.

Skills

Python

Go

JavaScript

Tools

APIs

Containerization

IaC

Job description

Come join us: a rare opportunity to join Ocean Advisor as one of our Founding Software Engineering positions - a mission-driven, high-impact role at the intersection of AI, climate tech, and marine science.

The Mission

We’re building a platform to help the global fishing industry fish smarter, not harder, using predictive insights powered by geophysical data, satellite imagery, and machine learning. The goal? Dramatically boost yields while reducing environmental impact.

This isn’t theory -- we’re operating as a joint venture with a shareholding fishing company, ensuring our platform has real-world, high-stakes application from day one.

At Ocean Advisor, economics and sustainability are fundamentally aligned: every smarter fishing decision enhances both profitability and ecological resilience.

The Vision

A world where every commercial fishing decision is data-backed, driving sustainability, profitability, and resilience across the oceans.

The Role: Founding Engineer

As the internal technical hire, you’ll work across our production platform—backend services, geospatial data systems, APIs, and cloud infrastructure—helping shape technical architecture as we scale.

Building and scaling cloud-native data infrastructure, including storage, compute, orchestration, and secure service deployment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Design, build, and evolve backend services that support production client workflows across analytics, geospatial intelligence, and operational decision systems
• Architect and improve cloud-native infrastructure, including deployment workflows, containerized services, storage systems, observability, and service reliability
• Work across multiple parts of the stack—including APIs, backend systems, infrastructure, and data services—depending on platform needs
• Translate scientific models and business requirements into scalable production software
• Help establish technical standards, engineering patterns, and development discipline as the team grows
• Contribute to secure, maintainable engineering practices across code, environments, and production operations

We’re looking for:

• Strong software engineering fundamentals, with production experience in one or more languages such as Python, Go, or JavaScript
• Experience building and maintaining cloud-based systems and modern backend infrastructure
• Familiarity with APIs, containerized services, infrastructure as code (IaC), and production deployment workflows
• Strong independent problem-solving ability and comfort operating in ambiguity
• Ability to move quickly, communicate clearly, and take ownership without heavy process
• Genuine curiosity about sustainability, ocean systems, or applying technology to physical industries

Work Setup & Culture

• Founder, Richard Wright: Ph.D. in Geography + MBA from UCLA, created Ocean Adviser from Scratch
• Team
  • Flexible hybrid: ~2 days/week in Laguna Niguel, CA
  • Comfortable with ambiguity, high velocity, and big bets
  • Entrepreneurial mindset required—you’ll build, shape, and own
  • Strong scientific curiosity is a bonus

Compensation & Perks

• Salary: $100–170K
• Equity: not off the gate, exceptional - owner innovating & driving the value of the firm - its in the firms interest that you're an owner
• Health, dental, and vision (same plan as the founder)
  • ADP total source - better benefits relied on joined venture partner - meant for larger orgs)
• Laptop provided
• Minimum 15 days off, with unlimited PTO and monthly Flexible Fridays
• Mission-aligned team deeply focused on ocean sustainability

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $100 – $180 per year.