Software Engineer (Desktop + Backend)

HorizonAI Talent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation possible

Job summary

HorizonAI Talent is assisting a San Mateo-based client building AI-powered CAD software. You will own end-to-end desktop applications for Windows and macOS, from initial design to shipped releases, with packaging and code signing.

The role blends native desktop work with backend services in Python and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP). You will collaborate with founders to translate goals into a technical roadmap and help set engineering standards as the team scales.

Qualifications

• 7+ years building and shipping production software.

Responsibilities

• Own core systems end to end from a fuzzy problem to a shipped product.
• Build and ship the desktop application on Windows and macOS, including packaging and code signing.
• Design the backend behind it: Python services, databases, AWS.

Skills

Desktop apps

C++

C#/.NET

Swift/Cocoa

Qt

Python

AWS

GCP

System architecture

Tools

AWS

GCP

Qt

Job description

Hardware engineers are quick at the first sketch. Then they lose weeks to the tedious, repetitive work that sits between the concept and the final design.

Our client is building AI-powered CAD to cut that out, with a foundation model for physical design and manufacturing underneath it. Founded in 2024 by early Cruise Automation engineers, they're YC-backed and have just closed a $7.4M seed led by Insight Partners. The team is only 4 people and about to double, so this is a chance to get in on the ground floor of something that's going to be huge.

They need a software engineer who builds real applications, not just services. The product lives on engineers' desktops, so this is native Windows and macOS work as much as it is backend.

What you'll do

• Own core systems end to end, from a fuzzy problem to a shipped, maintained product
• Build and ship the desktop application on Windows and macOS, including packaging and code signing
• Design the backend behind it: Python services, databases, AWS
• Work directly with the founders to turn goals into a technical roadmap, then set the engineering bar as the team grows

What they're looking for

• 7+ years building and shipping production software
• Applications you've built end to end: desktop ideally (C++, C#/.NET, Swift/Cocoa, Qt), though web counts. Not only backend
• Deep Python and real backend experience: databases, AWS or GCP, services that scale
• A long-term system you architected, led and stuck with through the bug‑fixing and polish
• Breadth across more than one domain, plus startup or founder experience ideally
• Bonus points for game development, CAD or 3D software. C#/.NET helps too, since some add-ins are C#.

Probably not for you if you've only worked on backend services, or your background is mostly ML engineering. Both are useful, but this seat needs someone who ships applications.

The detail

• Onsite in San Mateo, with relocation considered case by case
• $180K–$250K base plus up to 0.7% equity
• Process: a technical call with the CEO, a call with the CTO, an 8-hour take-home (AI tools allowed) and an onsite with both founders