Principal Software Engineer

Huxley; United States; Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Equity opportunity

Job summary

Specialist Staffing Group is seeking a hands-on Principal Software Engineer for an AI-powered manufacturing platform. This role blends building core platform features with mentoring engineers in a fast-paced startup environment.

You'll lead design, write production-grade code, scale the system, and collaborate with executive leadership to shape product direction in Walnut Creek, CA on a hybrid schedule.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in Python development.
• Proven experience building and scaling software systems.
• Ability to provide technical leadership while remaining hands-on.
• Experience mentoring and developing engineers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ownership mentality.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced startup environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of core platform features.
• Write production-quality code and remain deeply involved in implementation.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers.
• Drive technical decisions and engineering best practices.
• Help scale a cutting-edge AI platform from early-stage growth through product expansion.
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership and engineering stakeholders.

Skills

Python development

Technical leadership

Mentoring engineers

Software design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

JavaScript

Job description

Principal Software Engineer (Python) | AI for Manufacturing

Join an innovative, venture-backed startup building next-generation AI solutions for the manufacturing industry. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact at a critical stage of growth, helping shape both the technology and engineering culture of a high-potential company.

About the Company

• Early-stage startup headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Recently raised $10M in funding
• Small, highly collaborative team of approximately 10 employees
• Approaching a major product launch and entering an exciting growth phase
• Mission-driven organization focused on transforming industrial operations through AI

What You’ll Be Building

The company is developing a platform that enables manufacturers to deploy AI-powered agents across factory operations. These intelligent systems learn from human operators and help streamline complex manufacturing processes.

The Role

We are seeking a hands-on Principal Software Engineer who thrives in startup environments and enjoys both building software and mentoring engineers.

You will:

• Lead the design and development of core platform features
• Write production-quality code and remain deeply involved in implementation
• Mentor and guide junior engineers
• Drive technical decisions and engineering best practices
• Help scale a cutting-edge AI platform from early-stage growth through product expansion
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership and engineering stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• Strong expertise in Python development
• Proven experience building and scaling software systems
• Ability to provide technical leadership while remaining hands-on
• Experience mentoring and developing engineers
• Strong problem-solving skills and ownership mentality
• Comfortable working in fast-paced startup environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous startup experience
• Experience building SaaS, cloud, platform, or enterprise software products
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field (Master's degree is a plus)
• Frontend experience with JavaScript is beneficial

What We’re Looking For

• Builders who enjoy coding, not just managing
• Self-starters who identify problems and drive solutions
• Engineers who thrive with autonomy and accountability
• Leaders who can balance technical excellence with team development

Work Environment & Benefits

• Hybrid role based in Walnut Creek, CA
• Flexible schedule with approximately 1-3 days in office per week
• Unlimited PTO
• High-performance, collaborative culture
• Significant ownership and influence on product direction
• Equity opportunity available

Compensation

• Base salary: $175,000 - $200,000+
• Equity package available

Specialist Staffing Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

In addition to base pay, direct-hire employees may be eligible for client offered benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage, and paid leave where required by applicable law. Eligibility may vary based on location and hire date and is subject to change.