Associate Software Engineer

This range is provided by Cabana. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.Base pay range$130,000.00/yr - $180,000.00/yrOverviewI'm working with a YC-backed defense AI startup that's scaling rapidly. They're building an AI platform that helps defense suppliers win government contracts. They're lean, scrappy, and hiring their Founding Engineer to own large parts of the stack, ship fast, and work directly with customers shaping mission-critical defense tech.What you'll be doingShip full-stack features daily (70/30 backend/frontend bias but comfortable across the stack)Build AI agents + LLM-based workflows into production systemsTalk to users (defense companies, military stakeholders) and turn feedback into product decisionsWork on hard, ambiguous problems with huge national-security impactBe in-person in San Francisco, with occasional travel to DC / military basesWhat they're looking for0–4 YoE ideal (can flex up to 7 for exceptional talent)Strong background in React, Next.js, PythonEx-technical founder, founding CTO/CPO, or Forward Deployed Engineer background = big plusHungry, fast-moving builder who thrives with agency, feedback, and ambiguityUS citizen only (no visa sponsorship)Package$130k–$180k0.5%–1.5% equitySF office, 5 days/weekSeniority levelEntry levelEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionSoftware DevelopmentWe're unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.Location:San Francisco, CAJ-18808-Ljbffr