Lead Software Engineer (YC Experience)

Role details

Location: San Francisco, California — On-site Compensation: $180,000–$300,000 USD Start Date: ASAP Languages: Fluent English required Type: Full-time Tech Stack: TypeScript, Python, Go ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY Pragmatike is recruiting on behalf of a fast-growing technology company building sophisticated software systems and infrastructure at scale. We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer with experience in YC-backed or Venture backed start-ups to lead engineering initiatives while remaining deeply hands-on. This role combines technical leadership, architecture, mentorship, and direct software development. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Lead engineering projects from architecture through production. - Design and build systems using TypeScript, Python, and Go. - Make technical decisions across product and platform initiatives. - Break down ambiguous problems into executable engineering plans. - Lead code reviews and establish engineering standards. - Mentor and develop senior engineers. - Collaborate with Product and Engineering leadership. - Improve reliability, scalability, and engineering velocity. - Remain hands-on with critical technical implementation. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - 8+ years of software engineering experience. - Strong hands-on programming experience with TypeScript, Python, and/or Go. - Proven technical leadership experience. - Strong system design and architecture skills. - Experience mentoring engineers. - Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration. - Strong ownership and execution. - Willingness to work on-site in San Francisco. NICE TO HAVE - Kubernetes and cloud. - Distributed systems. - AI/ML infrastructure. - Startup or scale-up experience. - Experience building teams or technical functions. WHY JOIN? Our client is building highly scalable technology that sits at the core of critical business operations, offering engineers the opportunity to work on complex systems, large-scale integrations, and real-world technical challenges. You'll join a collaborative, fast-moving environment where ownership is encouraged, decisions are made quickly, and engineers have meaningful influence on architecture, product direction, and engineering culture. This role offers the opportunity to tackle challenging backend problems, work with modern technologies, and grow alongside an ambitious team building for scale. Full benefit package and competitive compensation. Pragmatike is committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive recruitment process. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. In accordance with GDPR, your personal data will be processed lawfully, fairly, and securely, and used solely for recruitment purposes, including sharing it with our client(s) for employment consideration. You may request access, correction, or deletion of your data at any time. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your information throughout the recruitment process.