Software Engineer, Backend

Fab2; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Paid Time Off

Visa Sponsorship

Life Insurance

Parental Leave

401(k)

Learning & Development

Commuter Benefits

Office Lunches

Snacks & Beverages

Job summary

fab2 in San Francisco seeks a Senior Backend Software Engineer to design and implement core backend APIs powering our fab product. You will shape data models and bridge central web apps with manufacturing hardware to enable real‑time control and observability.

You’ll own system architecture, performance, and reliability, lead end‑to‑end delivery of production systems, and collaborate across Go, Rust, gRPC stacks. Prior experience with hardware or embedded systems is a plus.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated command of backend systems engineering with Go, Rust, or gRPC.
• Experience delivering complex production systems end to end.
• Deep understanding of concurrency, networking, and databases.
• Ability to own systems under real-world constraints, including on-call support.
• Track record of leading by example with clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and development of high-performance backend APIs (Go, Rust, gRPC).
• Break down manufacturing challenges into actionable data models and plans.
• Integrate web applications with hardware and embedded systems for real-time operations.
• Ensure reliability, observability, and performance of mission-critical manufacturing systems.
• Guide long-term system architecture to support evolving fab processes.

Skills

Go

Rust

gRPC

Job description

About fab2

The fab2 team can build anything. We design all the hardware and software needed to make chips and we make the fabs, tools, and components ourselves. We're looking for exceptional, hands‑on people who can iterate to the limits of what's possible.

fab2 was founded by Sam Zeloof and Jim Keller. Sam is best known for making chips in his garage, and Jim has been a leader in the semiconductor industry for the past 40 years.

About the Team

The Fab Software team builds the product that runs our entire fab—a central web app used to manufacture chips. Our users are internal process engineers. We build tools for managing hardware, monitoring and controlling systems in real time, designing processes, and analyzing experimental data. The work on this team spans frontend, backend, and data, all focused on making the fab programmable, observable, and easy to operate as we push toward a fully software‑defined chip manufacturing process driven by AI and ML orchestration.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer to build the core systems that power our fab product. You will focus on backend architecture, data models, and bridging the gap between our central web applications and physical manufacturing hardware. You will know you are successful when process engineers can seamlessly and reliably control, monitor, and orchestrate fab hardware in real‑time through the systems you’ve architected.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of high-performance backend APIs (Go, Rust, gRPC) that power our central fab product.
• Break down complex manufacturing challenges into actionable data models (recipes, runs, tools, wafers, jobs) and technical plans for yourself and the broader team.
• Integrate web applications with underlying hardware and embedded systems, ensuring seamless, real‑time operations.
• Ensure the reliability, observability, and performance of mission‑critical manufacturing systems, holding yourself and the team accountable to clear timelines.
• Drive the long‑term system architecture, challenging existing assumptions to support our evolving fab processes and yield optimization goals.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated command of best practices in backend systems engineering, specifically with Go, Rust, or gRPC.
• Experience leading and delivering highly complex, business‑critical production systems from end to end.
• Deep understanding of systems fundamentals: concurrency, networking, and databases.
• Proven ability to own systems under real‑world constraints, including failure recovery, troubleshooting, and on‑call support.
• A track record of earning trust, providing clarity to your team, and leading by example through consistent follow‑through.

Nice‑to‑haves

• Experience working with hardware or embedded systems.
• Deep database knowledge (Postgres internals, migrations, performance tuning).
• Interest in networking, security, or distributed systems.
• Experience running a homelab or building infrastructure for fun.

Working at fab2

We’re an early‑stage hardware startup with solid funding, world‑class advisors, and a lab/office.

Compensation

fab2 is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $125,000 – $195,000. Compensation is determined based on your qualifications and experience. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in fab2.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off inclusive of Holidays and Sick Time
• Visa Sponsorship
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Weekly Learning & Development opportunities
• Commuter Benefits including Parking and Late Night Uber rides from the office
• Lunches daily, Dinners 3x per week, Stocked Office Kitchen with Snacks and Spindrifts

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or other legally protected statuses.

Export Control Analysis: This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

fab2, formerly known as Atomic Semi