Senior Software Engineer

Lightning; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 206,000 - 217,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Coverage

Equity (RSUs)

401(k) Matching

Unlimited PTO

Winter Break

Parental Leave

Development Allowance

Wellness Stipend

Sabbatical

Flexible Work

In-Office Meals

Job summary

Lightning AI is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and implement microservices-based architecture for its core platform services. Position allows for occasional telecommuting within commuting distance of reporting office in Redmond, WA.

You will build and maintain RESTful APIs, deploy scalable backend systems, mentor engineers, participate in design decisions, and help plan sprint work. Strong background in distributed systems and cloud-native architectures is required, with Go,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Software or Computer Engineering, CS, or closely related field.
• 5+ years of backend/distributed systems experience.
• Experience with AWS, GCP, and/or Azure.
• Experience with container orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in Go, Python, or Java; IaC (Terraform/CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of networking, security, and scalability concepts.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain RESTful APIs and backend services for resource management.
• Develop internal tooling and automation for infrastructure provisioning.
• Integrate with cloud provider services (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Contribute to design decisions and technical architecture planning.
• Review code and mentor junior engineers; promote best practices.
• Plan and participate in sprints and technical planning.
• Design monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions.
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement fixes.
• Develop disaster recovery and backup strategies.
• Optimize system performance and resource utilization.

Skills

Backend distributed systems

Go

Python

Java

Kubernetes

Cloud architectures

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software or Computer Engineering/CS

Tools

Kubernetes

Terraform

CloudFormation

Job description

Lightning AI is the company behind PyTorch Lightning. Founded in 2019, we build an end-to-end platform for developing, training, and deploying AI systems - designed to take ideas from research to production with less friction.

Through our merger with Voltage Park, a neocloud and AI Factory, Lightning AI combines developer-first software with cost-efficient, large-scale compute. Teams get the tools they need for experimentation, training, and production inference, with security, observability, and control built in.

We serve solo researchers, startups, and large enterprises. Lightning AI operates globally with offices in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and London, and is backed by Coatue, Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Firstminute.

The Way We Work

The people who thrive here are builders who move fast, communicate openly, take ownership, and continuously improve themselves, their teams, and our company. Here's what that looks like in practice:

• Move with Urgency: We move quickly, make thoughtful decisions, and keep momentum. We value action over perfection and learn by shipping.
• Take Ownership: We own outcomes, not just our individual work. We make decisions that move the company forward and follow through.
• Communicate Openly: We communicate directly, seek to understand, and create clarity for others. Honest conversations help us move faster together.
• Build Great Teams: We lead by example, empower others, and create healthy teams where people can do their best work.
• Raise the Bar: We're always improving ourselves. We learn from feedback, consistently challenge ourselves to grow, and focus on the work that matters most.
• Think Long-Term: We design for what's next. We create scalable systems, simplify complexity, and use AI and automation to amplify our impact.

What We're Looking For

Multiple position openings. We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer who will design and implement microservices-based architecture for Lightning AI's core platform services. Position allows for occasional telecommuting within commuting distance of reporting office in Redmond, WA.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain RESTful APIs and backend services for resource management;
• Develop internal tools and automation for infrastructure provisioning;
• Integrate with various cloud provider services (AWS, Azure, GCP);
• Contribute to technical design decisions and architecture planning;
• Review code and provide constructive feedback to team members;
• Mentor junior software engineers and promote software engineering best practices;
• Participate in technical planning and sprint planning sessions;
• Design and implement monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions;
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement fixes;
• Develop disaster recovery and backup strategies; and
• Optimize system performance and resource utilization.

What You'll Need

• Position requires a Bachelor's degree in Software or Computer Engineering, Computer Science or a closely related technical field (or foreign degree equivalent); and 5 years of relevant experience.

Position also requires at least five (5) years of experience in each of the following:

• Software engineering with a focus on backend/distributed systems;
• Working with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, and/or Azure;
• Working with container orchestration (Kubernetes) and microservices architecture;
• Programming languages such as Go, Python, and/or Java;
• Infrastructure-as-code such as Terraform and/or CloudFormation; and
• Networking, security, and scalability concepts.

Compensation

We are committed to offering competitive compensation that reflects the value each team member brings to our mission. Final offers are based on factors such as experience, skills, geographic location, and role expectations. In addition to base salary, our total rewards package for eligible roles includes a discretionary bonus, a meaningful equity component, and comprehensive benefits.

The anticipated annual base salary range for this role is:

$206,086 - $217,000 USD

Benefits and Perks

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' health, well-being, and long-term success:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Meaningful Equity: RSUs that give employees a stake in the company's long-term success.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) matching (U.S.) and pension contributions (U.K.).
• Flexible Time Off: Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and floating holidays to support work-life balance.
• Company-Wide Winter Break: Two weeks of company closure each winter to disconnect and recharge.
• Paid Parental & Family Leave: Paid leave to support you and your family through life's important moments.
• Professional Development: Annual learning and development allowance to support your professional growth.
• Wellness Benefits: Wellness and work-from-home stipends to support your physical and mental well-being.
• Sabbatical Program: Four weeks of paid sabbatical leave after four years of service.
• Flexible Work: Flexible schedules and a hybrid work model for our office-based teams.
• In-Office Meals: Complimentary meals at our office hubs.

Benefits may vary by location, team, and role.

At Lightning AI, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and create better products. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are dedicated to building a culture where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.