Staff Software Engineer, Compiler

Code Metal; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401k matching

Paid time off

Hybrid or remote work

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Code Metal, Inc. seeks an experienced software engineer to lead the translation toolchain that turns Python into correct, deployable C++ for embedded systems. You will shape parsing, semantic analysis, and IR design while ensuring exact Python semantics in statically typed C++ outputs.

You will guide a team in building end-to-end compiler-like workflows, with emphasis on correctness, verification, and robust CI/CD practices. A TS clearance eligibility is preferred for certain projects.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional software development in C++ and/or Python.
• Hands-on experience building a compiler, transpiler, interpreter or language runtime: end-to-end pipeline.
• Deep understanding of parsing, AST and IR design, type systems, IR transformations and code generation.
• Experience with compiler infrastructure such as Clang/LLVM, MLIR, GCC or equivalent.
• Strong modern C++: templates, value semantics, undefined behaviour, and how source code maps to the machine.
• Solid delivery fundamentals: code review, testing, CI/CD and build systems.
• A track record of leading large technical projects in a team, and of turning stakeholder needs into designs.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve the translation pipeline’s IR, analysis passes and C++ code generation, keeping the core independent of any one source language.
• Build type inference and lowering for dynamic Python features: arbitrary-precision integers, exceptions, generators, containers, and calls to the standard library and third-party libraries.
• Make semantic equivalence measurable, through differential testing against CPython, conformance suites and fuzzing.
• Integrate LLM-assisted generation where analysis falls short, with structured outputs and checks that catch its mistakes.
• Collaborate with verification and domain specialists to bring static analysis and formal methods into the pipeline.
• Set engineering standards for the codebase: tests, CI/CD, reproducible builds and code review.

Skills

C++

Python

Compiler development

Parsing

IR design

Code generation

CI/CD

Leadership

Security clearance

Tools

Clang/LLVM

MLIR

GCC

Job description

About Code Metal

Code Metal is the leader in automated software engineering you can trust. As AI writes more of the world's code, the bottleneck in software has shifted from writing code to verifying it works, and AI cannot verify its own work with certainty. Code Metal takes a fundamentally different approach: constrain AI to what it does reliably, verify every step independently of the model using formal methods, and keep engineers in the loop on the decisions that matter. The result isn't code that probably works — it's code that is provably correct, with auditable proof. Customers including the U.S. Air Force, L3Harris, RTX, and Toshiba use Code Metal to modernize legacy code, optimize performance on real hardware, and move prototypes to production, fast. Founded in 2023 with offices in Boston and San Francisco, Code Metal is funded by Accel, Salesforce Ventures, B Capital, Smith Point Capital, J2 Ventures, Shield Capital, Overmatch, RTX, and others.

About Code Metal

Code Metal is the leader in automated software engineering you can trust. As AI writes more of the world's code, the bottleneck in software has shifted from writing code to verifying it works, and AI cannot verify its own work with certainty. Code Metal takes a fundamentally different approach: constrain AI to what it does reliably, verify every step independently of the model using formal methods, and keep engineers in the loop on the decisions that matter. The result isn't code that probably works — it's code that is provably correct, with auditable proof. Customers including the U.S. Air Force, L3Harris, RTX, and Toshiba use Code Metal to modernize legacy code, optimize performance on real hardware, and move prototypes to production, fast. Founded in 2023 with offices in Boston and San Francisco, Code Metal is funded by Accel, Salesforce Ventures, B Capital, Smith Point Capital, J2 Ventures, Shield Capital, Overmatch, RTX, and others.

The Role

We're building a new generation of translation tools that turn Python algorithm code into correct, deployable C++ for embedded systems. They combine classic compiler techniques with generative AI and modern verification. Analysis and lowering carry most of the work. AI covers the cases analysis can't, and testing and verification check the result.

You’ll lead the architecture of the translation pipeline, from parsing and semantic analysis through intermediate representation (IR) design to C++ code generation. That means deciding how to keep Python's semantics exact when the output is statically typed C++.

Core Responsibilities

• Design and evolve the pipeline’s IR, analysis passes and C++ code generation, keeping the core independent of any one source language.
• Build type inference and lowering for dynamic Python features: arbitrary-precision integers, exceptions, generators, containers, and calls to the standard library and third-party libraries.
• Make semantic equivalence measurable, through differential testing against CPython, conformance suites and fuzzing.
• Integrate LLM-assisted generation where analysis falls short, with structured outputs and checks that catch its mistakes.
• Collaborate with verification and domain specialists to bring static analysis and formal methods into the pipeline.
• Set engineering standards for the codebase: tests, CI/CD, reproducible builds and code review.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional software development in C++ and/or Python, shipping to real users.
• Hands-on experience building a compiler, transpiler, interpreter or language runtime: the end-to-end pipeline, not just one pass.
• Deep understanding of parsing, AST and IR design, type systems, IR transformations and code generation.
• Experience with compiler infrastructure such as Clang/LLVM, MLIR, GCC or equivalent.
• Strong modern C++: templates, value semantics, undefined behaviour, and how source code maps to the machine.
• Solid delivery fundamentals: code review, testing, CI/CD and build systems.
• A track record of leading large technical projects in a team, and of turning stakeholder needs into designs.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with dynamic-language implementation or analysis (CPython internals, PyPy, Cython, Numba, mypyc, or type inference for dynamic languages).
• Differential testing, fuzzing, symbolic execution, or formal verification (e.g. Z3, Coq, TLA+).
• Experience applying LLMs to code generation or program repair.
• Embedded, heterogeneous (FPGA/GPU) or resource-constrained targets.
• Familiarity with DSP, RF, communications or other compute-intensive domains.
• A current security clearance, or the ability to obtain one (US citizenship required for cleared work).

Benefits

• Pay depends on experience, but we strive to be at the upper end of the salary range
• Health care plan with 100% premium coverage, including medical, dental, and vision
• 401k with 5% matching
• Paid Time Off (uncapped vacation, plus sick and public holidays)
• Flexible hybrid or remote work arrangement
• Relocation assistance for qualifying employees

Wage Transparency - The salary range for this role is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as the final offer amount may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, individual proficiency, skills, experience, and location.

We are an equal opportunity employer. US Citizenship may be required for certain project assignments involving security clearance.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Compensation Range: $170K - $250K