Staff Backend Engineer New Remote - United States

Afresh; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Equity grants

401(k) with match

Remote-friendly/work from home

Professional development budget

Monthly wellbeing stipend

Job summary

Afresh aims to redefine grocery AI with backend-focused engineering to own the next-generation ordering product. The Staff Software Engineer will define architectural roadmaps and tackle challenging problems enabling business growth across store and distribution operations.

You will lead scalable backend initiatives, work closely with Designers, Product, and Account teams, and mentor junior engineers while embracing new tools in a fast-paced AI-driven environment.

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science or equivalent.
• 8+ years of software development experience.
• Thrives in a fast-paced AI-native engineering organization that embraces new tools.
• Proven ability to lead and drive projects through the entire development lifecycle with autonomy.
• Strong communication skills and ability to align technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ready to mentor junior engineers and contribute to the team's growth.
• Curious about complex systems and the business domain beyond the team's scope.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, buildout, and deployment of scalable and robust APIs and backend systems, making architectural decisions that shape the platform.
• Collaborate with Designers and Product Managers, and work with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Partner with Product, Account Management, and engineering peers to serve client needs.
• Grow a product used daily in thousands of grocery stores across the country.
• Leverage best-in-class AI development tools and latest technologies to move faster and deliver high-quality software.

Skills

Backend development

APIs

System design

Leadership

Communication

Mentorship

AI tooling

Education

BS in Computer Science or equivalent

Job description

Afresh, the AI platform for grocery, began by tackling the most complex problem in the industry: fresh, and has evolved into the core AI platform for grocers.

By leveraging proprietary AI designed for high-volatility environments, we empower partners like Albertsons, Meijer, and Wakefern to drive smarter decisions across their entire enterprise.

Following record-breaking 70% revenue growth in 2025, we have scaled to 6 enterprise-grade solutions, with solutions live in over 10% of the U.S. grocery market. Our platform now orchestrates billions of decisions from the store floor to the distribution center and prevented over 200 million pounds of food waste last year alone.

If you're looking for a role where your work directly translates into massive scale and social good, and you want to be part of the team that defines how the world eats, there is no better time to join us.

About the Role

Join the Scanner Team as a Staff Software Engineer, backend-focused, to own the development of our next-generation, flagship AI grocery ordering product. This is a pivotal role where you'lldefine the architectural roadmapfor our next-generation systems and tackle challenging engineering problems that directly enablebusiness expansion.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design, buildout, and deployment of highly scalable and robust APIs and backend systems, making critical architectural decisions that shape our platform and product.
• Work in a close-knit team with other engineers alongside dedicated Designer and Product Manager teammates.
• Partner with Product, Account Management, and peer engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions that serve client needs.
• Grow a product that’s used daily in thousands of grocery stores across the country.
• Build with best-in-class AI development tools, with access to the latest technologies and passionate coworkers who help engineers move faster and deliver higher-quality software.

What makes you a great fit

• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of software development experience.
• Eagerness to thrive in a fast-paced, AI-native engineering organization that embraces new tools and continuously evolves how it builds software.
• Proven ability to lead and drive projects through the entire development lifecycle, from conception to launch, with a high degree of autonomy.
• Strong communication skills and a proven ability to build alignment across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Readiness to step into a mentorship role to guide junior engineers and contribute to the team's growth.
• Being curious about complex systems, including a desire to understand our intricate business domain and dependencies outside the team's direct ownership.

Salary Range in US: $168k - 253k + meaningful early-stage equity + benefits

Why You’ll Love Working at Afresh
At Afresh, our mission to eliminate food waste starts with investing in our people. We provide a comprehensive support system designed to help you do your best work while maintaining a healthy, balanced life.

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family, with the majority of premiums covered by Afresh. We also provide dedicated mental health support and counseling services.
• Invested in Your Future: Competitive base salary, meaningful equity (U.S. employees), and a 401(k) program with a generous company match.
• Flexible & Modern Workspace: Whether you work from home or a local office, we support your setup with a home office stipend and "Coworking Wallets" for flexible workspace access.
• Growth-Obsessed Culture: We believe in continuous learning. Every employee receives an annual professional development budget to master new skills and grow their career at Afresh.
• Holistic Monthly Stipends: Beyond your paycheck, we provide monthly stipends for "Betterment" (wellness/lifestyle) and telecommunications to ensure you have what you need to thrive.
• Time to Recharge: Flexible paid time off to take the time you need to recharge.

*Full-time U.S. employees are eligible for these benefits

About Afresh

Founded in 2017, Afresh is using AI to tackle the #1 solution to curb climate change: reducing food waste. By building AI specifically for the intricacies of grocery—from the fresh perimeter to the center store,we help grocers minimize waste and maximize sales.

Afresh sits at an incredible intersection of positive social impact, rocket ship financial growth, and cutting-edge technology. Our best-in-class AI research has been published in top journals, including ICML, and our investors include Al Gore’s Just Climate, former Whole Foods Market CEO Walter Robb, and Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors.

Grocery is the past, present, and future of our food system - the waste we create today will impact our planet for years to come. Join us as we continue to build a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive team that embodies our company’s values of proactivity, kindness, candor, and humility.

Afresh provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.

Here at Afresh, many of our employees work remotely provided that they reside in one of the following states:AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MI, MT, MO, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TX, WA,UT,VA, WI.