Software Engineer (C++ Systems)

Thunder Compute; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Thunder Compute is looking for a core C++ Systems Developer in San Francisco. Your role involves performance optimization and debugging in critical systems. The ideal candidate has top-tier C++ skills and a strong responsibility ethic from day one.

This is a full-time in-person position, with opportunities for leadership as the company expands. If you're eager to own your work and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you.

Qualifications

• Top 0.1% C++ ability required.
• Experience optimizing networking and GPU performance is a must.
• Strong communication skills under pressure are essential.
• Willingness to take on leadership roles as the company scales.

Responsibilities

• Focus on core C++ systems development including performance optimization.
• Debug production, customer-facing systems.
• Own your work and be responsible for production systems from day 1.

Skills

C++ ability

Optimizing NIC/GPU performance

Understanding of low-level networking

Experience in latency-sensitive environments

Education

CS Bachelor’s degree from top 50 US university

Job description

Company

Thunder Compute is the lowest cost, easiest GPU cloud for developers. We’re a 4-person team with $4.5M raised from top tier investors including Y Combinator and Matrix Partners.

There are two parts to our company. 1) we are a cloud platform where customers can rent GPUs just like they would from Coreweave, Lambda, AWS, etc., and 2) we are building systems software to use GPUs more efficiently than these competitors.

Role

Your work will focus on core C++ systems development: performance optimization, systems debugging, and research.

You will spend your days bouncing between the weeds of complex, performance‑critical systems in a production, customer‑facing environment. This work is not easy - but if you’re the right candidate, this is a feature, not a bug.

Core technical skills:

• Top 0.1% C++ ability

• Experience optimizing NIC/GPU performance

• Deep understanding of low-level networking, compilers, and similar systems

• Experience in latency-sensitive environments

Must haves:

• You’ve got the dog in you: you will own your work and be responsible for production systems from day 1

• High speed-to-output

• Willingness to assume a senior leadership role as we scale

• Strong communication skills under pressure

Preferred:

• CS Bachelor’s degree from top 50 US university, 3.5+ GPA

• 1+ year of experience at a trading firm (Citadel, Jane Street, etc.), hardware company (NVIDIA, SambaNova), systems research or similar

Logistics

• You'll report to Co-founder/CTO Brian (ex-Citadel quant dev)

• This role is full-time, in-person in SF