Staff/Senior Software Engineer, Voice AI Platform

toast; United States; Hybrid; USD 151,000 - 309,000; Full time

Job summary

Toast is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for a Voice AI platform team in the United States. You will own end-to-end design and execution of resilient, scalable backend services and platform components in greenfield work, shaping architecture and integrating AI capabilities.

You will lead complex projects, establish observability and best practices, and mentor engineers across teams to ensure high-quality software delivery and long-term reliability.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with object-oriented languages such as Java or Kotlin.
• Experience developing AI-integrated products and shipping AI-enabled systems.
• Strong background in distributed systems, scalability, and production reliability.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, deploy, and maintain backend services for the voice AI platform.
• Lead multi-person, multi-team projects from design through production.
• Shape technical direction through architecture decisions and patterns.

Skills

Java/Kotlin

Distributed systems

Leadership

AI integration

Frontend basics

Code reviews/mentoring

Observability

AI coding tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/CE

Tools

Claude Code

Cursor

Job description

Role overview

A Staff Software Engineer position on a Voice AI platform team building foundational infrastructure that powers conversational experiences across a restaurant technology product. The role owns end-to-end design and execution of resilient, scalable backend services and platform components in a greenfield space. The work involves shaping architecture, integrating AI capabilities, and setting engineering standards that influence teams across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, deploy, and maintain resilient, scalable backend services for the voice AI platform
• Lead complex, cross-cutting projects from design through production, owning outcomes and driving alignment
• Shape technical direction through architectural decisions, defined patterns, and reduced complexity for downstream teams
• Build and evolve integrations with AI platforms and internal systems, balancing speed, reliability, and long-term scalability
• Establish observability, monitoring, and evaluation patterns for AI-powered systems
• Set and uphold engineering quality standards through written guidance, code reviews, and mentorship
• Mentor engineers at all levels through design feedback and technical coaching

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience with object-oriented languages such as Java or Kotlin
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Experience developing AI-integrated products, with practical understanding of shipping systems that incorporate LLMs or other AI capabilities
• Experience building AI-powered systems, including nondeterminism, evaluation strategies, observability, and cost management
• Track record of shipping complex, mission-critical production services and owning them long-term
• Experience leading multi-person and multi-team projects end-to-end, from design through rollout
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, scalability, and production reliability
• Basic familiarity with frontend development
• Active daily use of AI coding tools such as Claude Code or Cursor

Nice to have

• Experience with voice or conversational AI platforms

Benefits and work setup

• US-based remote, or hybrid in Boston or New York
• Starting salary determined by skills, experience, and geographic pay zone, with ranges from $151,000 to $309,000 USD depending on zone
• Total rewards package including cash compensation (overtime, bonus, or commissions where eligible) and equity
• Hybrid work model supporting in-person collaboration with flexibility for individual needs