Senior Backend Software Engineer (Python / FastAPI) New San Francisco, California, United States

Chaos, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k + company match

Pre-IPO stock options

Relocation assistance

Annual bonuses

Unlimited PTO

Free on-site lunch

Job summary

CHAOS Industries in San Francisco, CA is seeking a backend engineer to build real-time Python services and data pipelines that transform radar sensor data into actionable decisions. You will own end-to-end backend systems, focusing on low-latency processing, secure data handling and scalable architectures.

The role emphasizes hands-on development with FastAPI, scalable streaming and storage of detections, and collaboration to evolve platform capabilities while maintaining long-term

Qualifications

• Strong production experience building backend services in Python (FastAPI or similar).
• Own a production system end-to-end: design, shipping, fixes."
• Experience leveraging AI coding tools judiciously.

Responsibilities

• Build high-performance Python services that ingest, process and distribute real-time sensor data with low latency and security at scale.
• Own streaming, storage and replay of detections, tracks and telemetry for live/playback views.
• Shape platform architecture for new capabilities, scale and maintainability.

Skills

Python backend development

End-to-end system ownership

AI tooling usage

Tools

FastAPI

Job description

San Francisco, CA (On-site) | $140k–$240k base + pre-IPO stock options

Build the real-time backend that turns radar sensor data into decisions people can act on.

CHAOS Industries is a defense tech company founded in 2022 that has raised $1B from investors including 8VC, Accel and Valor Equity Partners. You’ll own the backend services and data pipelines that move sensor data from radars in the field to the operators who depend on it.

What you’ll do

• Build high-performance Python services that ingest, process and distribute real-time sensor data with low latency, high reliability and security at scale
• Build high-performance Python (FastAPI) services that ingest, process and distribute real-time data securely at scale
• Own streaming, storage and replay of detections, tracks and telemetry for live and playback 3D geospatial views
• Build the decision layer that coordinates a growing fleet of sensors as field conditions change
• Shape platform architecture for new capabilities, scale and long-term maintainability

You’re a fit if you have

• Strong production experience building backend services in Python (FastAPI or similar)
• Owned a production system end to end: designed it, shipped it, fixed it when it broke
• Real leverage from AI coding tools, with a considered view on what to delegate and what not to
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the San Francisco Bay Area (this role is on-site)

Nice to have

• Geospatial or 3D data visualization in TypeScript and React
• Edge computing, or moving data reliably over constrained or unreliable networks
• Azure or another major cloud platform
• Hardware, sensors, robotics, telemetry or defense systems

What you get

• Medical, dental and vision, 100% paid by the company
• 401k with 50% company match up to 6% of pay, plus FSA, HSA and life insurance
• Pre-IPO stock options, relocation assistance, and annual bonuses (coming soon)
• Unlimited PTO and a casual dress code
• Free daily lunch while you’re working on-site, plus a fully stocked kitchen

Pay range shown is base salary only and excludes equity, bonuses and benefits. Actual offers vary based on experience, skills and business needs.

Please note: Must be a U.S. Person as defined under U.S. export control regulations, as required for access to controlled technology, and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

EXPORT CONTROLS - This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Your responses to the questions below will be used solely to determine your eligibility under U.S. law to receive information and materials subject to U.S. export controls.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in CHAOS Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.