Staff Backend Software Engineer

Cognichip; Redwood City (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognichip is seeking a Staff Backend Software Engineer to design and scale backend services powering its AI-native semiconductor platform. The role focuses on cloud-native microservices, licensing models, and scalable workflows, with collaboration across R&D, product, and sales teams.

You will lead architecture, implement robust CI/CD, and shape observability across multi-cluster deployments, delivering reliable, high-performance backend capabilities for internal and client-facing products.

Qualifications

• 15+ years software engineering experience
• 5+ years in technical leadership
• Proven success in scaling cloud-native SaaS platforms
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, databases, messaging queues and caching

Responsibilities

• Architect and build robust, scalable backend microservices within a cloud-native Kubernetes environment, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Bridge the gap between backend services and UI requirements, delivering seamless full-stack capabilities where necessary.
• Engineer automated CI/CD workflows for efficient service deployment, container management, and image lifecycles.
• Implement advanced observability, metrics, and alerting strategies to ensure reliability across multi-cluster environments.
• Partner cross-functionally with IDE, Agentic, Evaluations teams to architect backend services that unlock new, high-impact product features.
• Build internal platforms and tooling that empower research, sales, and solutions teams to operate with high velocity.
• Champion engineering excellence by enforcing code quality standards, setting technical strategy, and maintaining architectural consistency across systems.
• Serve as a technical authority for key systems, driving domain expertise and seamless integration within our broader ecosystem.

Skills

Distributed systems

Microservices

Databases

Messaging queues

Caching strategies

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Code quality

Tools

Kubernetes

Job description

About Cognichip

At Cognichip, we are building AI-native tools that transform how semiconductor engineers create, verify, and optimize chips. Our platform combines large proprietary models, agentic workflows, domain-specific engineering intelligence, and high-performance simulation infrastructure to accelerate one of the world’s most complex engineering disciplines.

Job Title

Staff Backend Software Engineer

About Cognichip

At Cognichip, we are building AI-native tools that transform how semiconductor engineers create, verify, and optimize chips. Our platform combines large proprietary models, agentic workflows, domain-specific engineering intelligence, and high-performance simulation infrastructure to accelerate one of the world’s most complex engineering disciplines.

About The Role

We are seeking a Staff Backend Software Engineer to spearhead the development of our platform applications and services. You will architect critical backend solutions, including usage modeling, licensing for our AI products, and scalable services powering our agentic workflows. Your work will directly impact Cognichip's core product offerings for clients while building internal systems that empower our R&D, product, and sales teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and build robust, scalable backend microservices within a cloud-native Kubernetes environment, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Bridge the gap between backend services and UI requirements, delivering seamless full-stack capabilities where necessary.
• Engineer automated CI/CD workflows for efficient service deployment, container management, and image lifecycles.
• Implement advanced observability, metrics, and alerting strategies to ensure reliability across multi-cluster environments.
• Partner cross-functionally with IDE, Agentic, Evaluations teams to architect backend services that unlock new, high-impact product features.
• Build internal platforms and tooling that empower research, sales, and solutions teams to operate with high velocity.
• Champion engineering excellence by enforcing code quality standards, setting technical strategy, and maintaining architectural consistency across systems.
• Serve as a technical authority for key systems, driving domain expertise and seamless integration within our broader ecosystem.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5+ years in technical leadership roles. For fewer years of experience, the role can be scoped to senior engineer with 5-10 years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record architecting and scaling cloud-native SaaS platforms in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Deep technical expertise in distributed systems, specifically microservices, databases, messaging queues, and caching strategies.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional product development, effectively bridging the gap between technical requirements and business objectives.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills with a passion for mentoring and developing early-career engineers.

Bonus

• experience in AI/ML infrastructure, developer productivity tools, or startup environments.

What It's Like Here

• We're a fast-moving AI startup with a collaborative, high-trust culture.
• We value technical excellence, ownership, and the freedom to experiment.
• Our best work happens when our builders and innovators work closely together to turn ambitious ideas into category defining products.
• We operate on a hybrid schedule with four days in office, one day remote.
• If you're excited to build cutting edge tools that empower semiconductor engineers and reshape how chips are designed, you'll feel right at home.