Lead Software Engineer

Role: Lead Engineer – Software & AI

Location: San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)

Salary: $200k-$225 (DOE)

Are you excited by the opportunity to build intelligent software systems at the forefront of AI and fintech? Join a fast-growing fintech SaaS startup based in San Francisco that is transforming how businesses leverage automation, data, and AI-driven decision-making.

We’re looking for a Lead Engineer who can combine strong software engineering expertise with hands-on AI experience to help scale both the platform and the engineering function. This is a high-impact role where you’ll help define architecture, lead technical initiatives, and build cutting-edge AI-powered products from the ground up.

If you thrive in startup environments, enjoy ownership, and love building scalable systems with modern AI technologies — this role is for you.

Your Responsibilities:

* Lead the design and development of scalable software systems and AI-powered applications.

* Architect and build intelligent workflows leveraging LLMs, RAG pipelines, and agentic AI systems.

* Develop and maintain backend services using Python and Go.

* Build and optimize cloud-native infrastructure within AWS environments.

* Collaborate with product, engineering, and leadership teams to translate business challenges into technical solutions.

* Drive engineering best practices across architecture, testing, deployment, and security.

* Mentor and support junior engineers, providing technical guidance, code reviews, and career development support.

* Help scale and shape the engineering culture as the company grows.

* Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies into the product ecosystem.

What You Will Need:

* Proven experience in a Lead Engineer, Staff Engineer, or Senior Engineering role.

* Strong proficiency in Python and Go.

* Hands-on experience with AWS cloud infrastructure.

* Deep understanding of LLMs, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI agentic workflows.

* Experience designing scalable backend systems and APIs.

* Previous experience managing or mentoring junior engineers.

* Strong understanding of distributed systems, cloud architecture, and software design principles.

* Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced startup environment.

* Strong communication and leadership skills.

It’s a Bonus If You Have:

* Experience working within fintech or SaaS startups.

* Exposure to vector databases, embeddings, and orchestration frameworks.

* Experience building AI-driven automation tools or internal developer platforms.

* Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and DevOps best practices.

The Benefits:

* Competitive salary and equity opportunities

* Hybrid working model in San Francisco

* Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI and fintech products

* High ownership and influence over technical direction

* Collaborative, fast-moving startup culture

* Career growth opportunities as the engineering team scales

* Comprehensive benefits package and flexible PTO

This is a rare opportunity to join an ambitious fintech SaaS startup at a pivotal stage of growth, where your work will directly shape both the platform and the future of the company.

Apply now or drop me a message for more details! 🚀