Software Engineer, Backend

Serval; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impact on product success

Growth opportunities

Innovative culture

Job summary

Serval is seeking a Senior Software Engineer, Backend to guide the platform's future and build foundational technologies. You will collaborate with the CTO and play a crucial role in the product's success.

The ideal candidate has 4+ years in backend development, excels in user experience, and thrives in a fast-paced startup setting. Join an innovative team backed by leading investors and contribute to a culture of accountability and fun.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience as a backend focused software engineer.
• Experience with zero-to-one development.
• Deep appreciation for delivering outstanding user experiences.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the CTO to build new product capabilities.
• Champion user experience in design decisions.
• Set foundational system architecture and select key technologies.

Skills

Backend development

User experience

Communication

Mentorship

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Go

GRPC

Kubernetes

React

Typescript

AWS

Terraform

Job description

Who We Are

Serval is an AI-native automation platform transforming how enterprises operate. We build intelligent agents that understand real-world workflows and execute them end-to-end — replacing manual processes and rigid legacy systems with adaptive, learning software. Founded in early 2024, Serval is already trusted by companies like Fox, Notion, Perplexity, Vercel, and Brex to automate high-volume, high-friction operational work across their organizations.

At the core of Serval is an agentic AI platform that turns natural language into production-grade workflows. Our agents don’t just respond to requests — they reason, take action across systems, and continuously improve with usage. What began with operational use cases has quickly evolved into a horizontal AI automation layer used across IT, HR, Finance, Security, Legal, and Engineering.

Our mission is to eliminate repetitive, manual work across the enterprise and give teams leverage through intelligent automation. Long term, we’re building the universal AI operations layer — a system of agents that sits across business functions and runs the workflows that keep modern companies moving.

We’re backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Meritech, First Round, General Catalyst, Elad Gil, and others.

Role Overview

As a Senior Software Engineer, Backend at Serval, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our platform. You will be responsible for building the foundational components of our technology, with your contributions being crucial to the success of our product.

What You’ll Do

• Work closely with our CTO to build new product capabilities from the ground up.
• Be a champion for user experience, incorporating a deep understanding of our users to guide design decisions alongside the founding team.
• Set the foundational system architecture and select key technologies for the codebase.
• Help us ship V1 of Serval and deliver on our technical and product roadmap.
• Help establish engineering best practices and standards within the team. Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence.

What You’ll Need

• 4+ years of experience as a backend focused software engineer.
• Experience with zero-to-one development: You should have built new products or systems from the ground up.
• Deep appreciation for and commitment to delivering outstanding user experiences.
• Exceptional communication skills and a proven ability to work cross-functionally.
• Comfortable with the pace and ambiguity of a fast-growing startup environment.
• Degree in Computer Science or a related engineering field.

Nice to Have

• Experience with some of the technologies in our stack: Go, GRPC, Kubernetes, React, Typescript, AWS and Terraform.
• Early-stage experience at a startup.
• Experience building applied AI products.

What We Offer

• Impact: Be a key player in shaping the success of our product and company.
• Growth: Build a fundamentally new AI product offering with the support of our experienced team and investors. Grow rapidly with the company.
• Culture: Join a culture that values innovation, ownership, accountability, and fun.