Senior Software Engineer

David Joseph & Company; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

David Joseph & Company represents a seed-stage AI startup in New York, seeking a senior backend engineer to join as a hands-on IC in an early-stage B2B SaaS environment.

You will design, build, and operate production-grade backend services on a Python + AWS serverless stack, own features end-to-end, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with customers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in backend software engineering.
• Founding engineer or early hire at an early-stage B2B SaaS startup with end-to-end ownership.
• Own production backend systems, not just contribute to them.
• Advanced, production-level Python skills.
• Strong hands-on AWS experience, particularly serverless (Lambda, Step Functions).
• Product mindset and comfort speaking directly with customers to clarify needs.
• Based in or near New York City and able to work on-site three days a week (Midtown).
• BS in Computer Science or related STEM field, or equivalently strong startup track record.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate production-grade backend services and data pipelines on a Python + AWS serverless stack
• Make architectural and system-design decisions, using modern AI coding tools to move quickly
• Own features end-to-end across a primarily backend codebase, with occasional front-end work in React
• Work directly with customers to turn ambiguous requirements into shipped software
• Mentor junior engineers through code review, design discussions, and pairing

Skills

Backend engineering

Product mindset

Customer communication

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Python

AWS

REST APIs

Serverless (Lambda)

React

Data pipelines

Job description

About The Company

Our client is a seed-stage, venture-backed AI startup bringing modern software to a large, traditionally underserved industry — building a fully managed platform that ingests, organizes, and analyzes complex documents and data so its customers can make faster, better-informed decisions. They run a lean, AI-native engineering team where individual engineers carry real ownership over both product and architecture. Founded 2020

• :20 people

— New York, NY

• Hybrid


• Full-time


• $220K–$270K + equity

About The Company

Our client is a seed-stage, venture-backed AI startup bringing modern software to a large, traditionally underserved industry — building a fully managed platform that ingests, organizes, and analyzes complex documents and data so its customers can make faster, better-informed decisions. They run a lean, AI-native engineering team where individual engineers carry real ownership over both product and architecture. Founded 2020

• :20 people


• Industry: AI / Enterprise Software.

The Role

We're representing our client in a search for a senior backend engineer to join as a hands-on IC in an early-stage environment — shipping production services, driving key architectural decisions, and mentoring junior engineers, with a clear runway to a lead role in the near term.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design, build, and operate production-grade backend services and data pipelines on a Python + AWS serverless stack


• Make architectural and system-design decisions, using modern AI coding tools to move quickly


• Own features end-to-end across a primarily backend codebase, with occasional front-end work in React


• Work directly with customers to turn ambiguous requirements into shipped software


• Mentor junior engineers through code review, design discussions, and pairing

Tech stack:

Python, AWS (Lambda, Step Functions, serverless), REST APIs, microservices, event-driven architecture, React

Requirements

• 5+ years in backend software engineering


• Experience as a founding engineer or early hire at an early-stage B2B SaaS startup, with genuine end-to-end ownership


• A track record of owning production backend systems, not just contributing to them


• Advanced, production-level Python skills


• Strong hands-on AWS experience, particularly serverless (Lambda, Step Functions)


• A product mindset and comfort speaking directly with customers to clarify what needs building


• Based in or near New York City and able to work on-site three days a week (Midtown)


• A BS in Computer Science or a related STEM field, or an equivalently strong startup engineering track record in its place

Nice to Haves

• Prior tech-lead or mentorship experience guiding junior engineers


• Familiarity with AI coding tools and agentic development workflows

Why Join

• Build the core platform for a large industry that modern software has barely reached


• Small, well-backed, AI-native team where engineers own product and architecture outright


• Senior IC role with a clear near-term path to a lead position


• Competitive base plus meaningful early-stage equity

Details

• Location: New York, NY


• Work policy: Hybrid — 3 days/week in-office (Midtown)


• Compensation: $220K–$270K + equity


• Visa sponsorship: Not available for this role


• Employment type: Full-time