Staff Software Engineer

Ensemble Partners; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 320,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Equity

Signing bonus

Relocation support

Immigration support

Parental leave

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Ensemble Partners is supporting a confidential technology company in the Bay Area hiring an experienced Staff Engineer for a new applied AI programme. This hands-on role shapes architecture, delivery and technical standards across AI, backend and data platforms.

The successful candidate will design reliable AI-powered applications, scale backend services and APIs, and mentor other senior engineers while driving production-ready solutions in a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive software engineering experience.
• Experience leading technically complex projects.
• Strong backend and systems-design knowledge.
• History of building reliable production software at scale.
• Experience with applied AI, ML or data-intensive products.
• Ability to make architectural decisions and stay hands-on.
• Experience using modern AI engineering tools.

Responsibilities

• Design reliable AI-powered applications.
• Build scalable backend services and APIs.
• Take projects from design through production.
• Improve performance and reliability of distributed systems.
• Develop monitoring, testing and evaluation processes.
• Solve problems involving high-value data (regulated environment).
• Support and mentor other senior engineers.
• Help shape engineering standards as the team grows.

Skills

Backend design

Distributed systems

AI/ML experience

Hands-on architecture

Tooling for AI engineering

Job description

Bay Area | Up to $400,000 base + bonus and equity

I’m supporting a confidential technology company hiring an experienced Staff Engineer for a new applied AI programme.

The business operates in a complex, regulated market and is investing heavily in production AI. This is a hands-on engineering role with significant influence over architecture, delivery and technical standards.

The role

You’ll work on a new platform combining AI, backend engineering and large-scale data.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing reliable AI-powered applications
• Building scalable backend services and APIs
• Taking technical projects from initial design through to production
• Improving the performance and reliability of distributed systems
• Developing monitoring, testing and evaluation processes
• Solving problems involving sensitive, high-value data
• Supporting and mentoring other senior engineers
• Helping shape engineering standards as the team grows

Your background

• Significant professional software engineering experience
• Experience leading technically complex projects
• Strong backend and systems-design knowledge
• A history of building reliable production software at scale
• Experience with applied AI, machine learning or data-intensive products
• Comfortable making architectural decisions and remaining hands-onAble to work effectively in an environment where accuracy and security matter
• Experience using modern AI engineering tools

Relevant experience may come from fintech, healthcare, cybersecurity, enterprise software or another regulated industry.

Compensation

• Base salary up to $400,000
• Annual performance bonus
• Meaningful company equity
• Signing support may be available
• Paid parental leave
• Flexible paid time off
• Relocation and immigration support where required

The final package will depend on experience and must be confirmed before interview.

Location

This is a Bay Area position involving regular in-person collaboration.

The company’s identity and full product details will be shared with suitable candidates during the initial conversation.