This is not a spec-in, spec-out role. You'll operate with ambiguity, make calls on tradeoffs, and partner directly with senior engineers and leadership on what to build and how.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Build production backend services in Python — APIs, data services, and the glue between our compute layer and the products customers use
Work across the stack as needed — touch whatever part of the system the problem requires, from service code to data pipelines to integration layers
Ship iteratively against real customer needs — work directly with data products, science, and customer-facing teams to turn requirements into working systems
Own what you build — take responsibility for reliability, performance, and evolution of the services you stand up
Raise the bar for how we engineer — contribute to code quality, technical direction, and mentorship of earlier-career engineers
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Must-have
5+ years of backend software engineering experience in production environments
Strong Python fundamentals and experience building and operating backend services
Demonstrated ability to work across adjacent parts of a stack (data, infrastructure, APIs) rather than staying in a narrow lane
Track record of shipping in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
Clear written and verbal communication — you can articulate tradeoffs, explain decisions, and collaborate across functions
Should-have
Experience designing and operating distributed systems
Comfort with performance-sensitive code and systems where latency and throughput matter
Exposure to data-intensive applications — pipelines, storage systems, or analytical workloads
Nice-to-have
GPU or accelerator-adjacent engineering experience
Background in high-scale or high-performance computing environments
Experience partnering closely with applied science or research teams
Familiarity with causal inference or graph-based systems
WHY ALEMBIC
Work on systems that are genuinely novel — GPU-resident infrastructure running real-time causal computation at a scale few companies are attempting
Customers who use the product seriously — NVIDIA, Delta, and others rely on what we build
Small team, high ownership, short path from idea to production
Five days onsite in a downtown SF office with a team that cares about the craft
