Senior Software Engineer, Computation

Aurora-Solar; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO

Parental Leave

WFH Stipend

Coworking Stipend

Energize Fridays

Connectivity Stipend

Learning & Development

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Job summary

Aurora Solar in San Francisco is seeking a Senior Software Engineer for the System Design Pod to build the next generation of PV and storage design tools. You will lead features from discovery to release and push simulation and optimization forward.

You'll work at the intersection of software engineering and applied math, translating complex physical models into reliable software used by thousands of installers and homeowners.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a strong backend foundation.
• Academic background or equivalent skillset in computational mathematics, optimization, linear algebra, control theory, or numerical algorithms.
• Hands-on experience with simulation or optimization.
• Experience designing and building APIs, microservices, or data pipelines at scale.
• Sharp algorithmic thinking with focus on performance, correctness, and edge cases in computational systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain the backend systems and computation engines behind Aurora's solar and electrical design workflows.
• Advance our simulation and optimization work across PV and battery storage system layout, component selection, and electrical configuration.
• Partner with product managers, designers, research engineers, and fellow engineers to turn complex physical models and engineering constraints into reliable, scalable software.
• Shape the architecture of our simulation and computation infrastructure so it stays correct, fast, and maintainable as it grows.
• Write clean, well tested code and raise the engineering bar through the patterns you establish.
• Mentor teammates and contribute to technical discussions, code reviews, and design documents.
• Own the services you build end to end, including on-call rotation.

Skills

Backend engineering

Computational mathematics

Optimization

Linear algebra

Control theory

Numerical algorithms

Education

MS/PhD in CS or applied math or related field

Tools

C++

Python

Ruby

Job description

About Aurora Solar

Aurora is on a mission to create a future of solar for all. Our award-winning software puts the power of data and technology into the hands of every solar professional to make solar adoption simple and predictable. Our software has designed millions of solar projects so far, empowering solar companies to sell, design, and install residential and commercial solar arrays accurately, seamlessly, and at scale.

We’ve been named one of "The Best Remote Companies" by BuiltIn.com and have been recognized for the second time as a Certified Green Business (CGB) with the city of San Francisco. We’re in this together to support the world’s transition to solar.

About the Team

The System Design Pod sits at the heart of Aurora's core platform, building the computation engines that make accurate, high-fidelity solar design possible. Our team owns the algorithms and systems that power load and utility bill modeling, whole home electrification, PV and battery electrical design, and system performance simulation. The work is deeply technical, operating at the intersection of software engineering and applied math, and it has an outsized impact on the quality of every solar project designed in Aurora.

We work closely with product managers, designers, research engineers, and QA to turn hard physics and engineering problems into software that installers can trust. If you like digging into a tough problem, debating the right approach, and shipping something that holds up in the real world, you'll fit in here.

About the Role

As a Senior Software Engineer on the System Design Pod, you'll help build the next generation of PV and storage design tools at Aurora. You'll lead technical features from discovery through general release, propose new mathematical approaches to long-standing problems, and push our simulation and optimization work forward alongside a team that cares deeply about getting it right.

This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and applied math, with a direct line to the quality of every project designed on the platform. The technical and business contexts are steep at first, and the payoff is real: you'll move the accuracy and capability of solar design forward for thousands of installers and millions of homeowners.

Your Impact

• Design, build, and maintain the backend systems and computation engines behind Aurora's solar and electrical design workflows
• Advance our simulation and optimization work across PV and battery storage system layout, component selection, and electrical configuration
• Partner with product managers, designers, research engineers, and fellow engineers to turn complex physical models and engineering constraints into reliable, scalable software
• Shape the architecture of our simulation and computation infrastructure so it stays correct, fast, and maintainable as it grows
• Write clean, well tested code and raise the engineering bar through the patterns you establish
• Mentor teammates and show up fully in technical discussions, code reviews, and design documents
• Own the services you build end to end, including on-call rotation

What You Bring

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a strong backend foundation
• Academic background or equivalent skillset in computational mathematics, optimization, linear algebra, control theory, or numerical algorithms
• Hands-on experience with simulation or optimization
• Experience designing and building APIs, microservices, or data pipelines at scale
• Sharp algorithmic thinking, with the ability to reason about performance, correctness, and edge cases in computational systems
• Proficiency in one or more backend languages. Our stack is C++, Python, and Ruby, and relevant experience in other languages is welcome
• Strong written and verbal communication. You can explain complex technical ideas clearly and collaborate well on a distributed team

Nice to Haves

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in computer science, applied math, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field
• Familiarity with solar PV and battery technology, or electrical engineering concepts more broadly
• Experience with cloud-native compute infrastructure and batch or distributed processing systems
• A genuine pull toward renewable energy and the work of accelerating the transition
• Track record of thriving when the pace picks up and the problem space shifts

What We Offer

• Flexible PTO
• Parental Leave
• WFH Stipend
• Coworking Stipend
• Energize Fridays
• Connectivity Stipend
• Learning & Development
• Medical, Dental, and Vision

Please take a look at our Canadian Benefits Booklet for a deeper dive into our offerings

Where Aurorans are:

Aurora currently has teams within the US, Canada, Mexico, and Germany with additional locations on the horizon. We’re united in our work to support the world’s transition to solar!

Aurora is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce of people who believe in and are passionate about creating a future of solar energy for all. We are an equal opportunity employer, we welcome and consider qualified applicants regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy status, veteran status, or any other differences. We encourage you to apply even if you believe that you do not meet all of the above criteria!

Aurora is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation that would better enable your success during the application or interview process, please complete this form.