ISoftware Engineer

We're a small, ambitious team building the science of organic alignment. We hire for depth, ownership, and the drive to work on the hardest problems in AI. If that's you, we'd love to hear from you.

ISoftware Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Full-time

The Role

We're looking for a Software Engineer who thinks like a scientist and operates like a founder. You'll own entire systems end-to-end: from identifying what to build, to designing and implementing solutions, to measuring impact and iterating. This isn't a role where you wait for specs — you generate clarity from ambiguity and ship with conviction.

You're also fluent in modern AI tools and use them to multiply your output. We expect engineers here to be exceptionally productive and to leverage that productivity toward bigger problems, not just faster typing.

What You'll Do

• Own products end-to-end. Define what to build based on user needs and business goals. Design the technical approach. Build it. Ship it. Measure it. Improve it.
• Apply analytic rigor to feature decisions. Design experiments properly. Understand what your data can and can't tell you.
• Move fast with quality. We ship frequently and learn from real usage. Balance speed with craft.
• Leverage AI tools aggressively. We expect you to operate at 2–5x the productivity of a traditional engineer.
• Collaborate with a small, excellent team. Low process, high ownership, direct feedback.

What We're Looking For

• Deep analytical background. Graduate work in a quantitative field (CS, physics, etc.), research experience, or equivalent depth from industry.
• Full-stack capability with multi-language strength. Comfortable across the stack — backend services, data pipelines, frontend when needed. Python and C++.
• Strong customer instincts. You understand why something should be built, not just how.
• AI-native workflow. You already use AI tools daily and have opinions about how to use them effectively.
• Ownership mentality. You see problems, propose solutions, and drive them to completion.

Compensation

We hire based on impact, not years of experience. Compensation reflects your expected contribution. This covers a range of experience levels including what would be considered staff and principal engineer at larger organizations.

IISoftware Engineer — Contractor

Remote · Global · From $60/hr

The Role

We're seeking a remote contract software engineer to build high-quality systems and tools. You'll work independently on diverse engineering challenges that support our research and product development, focusing on scalability, performance, and clean architecture. Ideal for self-directed engineers who thrive with autonomy.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust, scalable software systems
• Build tools and infrastructure to support research and development workflows
• Optimize system performance
• Collaborate asynchronously with team members to translate requirements into technical solutions
• Write clean, maintainable code with appropriate testing and documentation

Requirements

• Strong software engineering background with demonstrated experience building complex systems independently
• Ability to work autonomously and manage projects from conception to delivery
• Strong written communication skills for remote collaboration
• Comfortable working across time zones and managing asynchronous workflows

Nice to Have

• Experience with machine learning, data science, or AI systems
• Familiarity with distributed computing
• Background in data visualization or analytics tools

Softmax is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels.