We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Full Stack Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. This role will involve deep engagement with our backend microservices, typescript front ends, and c++ edge processing applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software engineering, with specific expertise in distributed systems, relational database design, reactive frontend programming, and a keen eye for design. This role will report directly to the VP of Software Engineering.
Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & Vision
- Own multi-quarter technical roadmaps for platform systems, translating company goals into durable architectural decisions.
- Define and evangelize engineering standards, patterns, and best practices across teams - writing the documents other engineers reference.
- Drive architectural decisions for distributed systems and ensure long-term technical scalability across the stack.
- Identify and resolve systemic technical risks before they become production incidents.
Organizational Impact
- Lead multi-team technical design processes - writing RFCs, facilitating alignment, and driving decisions to closure.
- Actively develop senior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, pairing, and structured feedback.
- Translate complex technical tradeoffs into business impact for non-technical stakeholders including executives and customers.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to define and deliver solutions for our customers.
- Contribute to hiring by interviewing candidates and helping define what "great" looks like at Observable Space.
Execution & Engineering Excellence
- Design, build, and maintain Kotlin backend microservices, C++ edge applications, and reactive frontends.
- Design and optimize relational database schemas, ETL pipelines, and data warehousing solutions.
- Debug and resolve complex production issues across the full software stack (backend, frontend, and edge).
- Ensure high reliability and performance in production systems, and establish the observability practices that make this possible.
Basic Qualifications- 8+ years of experience in a relevant software engineering role, with at least 2-3 years in a Staff, Principal, or technical lead capacity.
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction beyond your immediate team - through documents, standards, or organizational initiatives.
- Track record of improving engineering quality, velocity, or culture at an organizational level.
- Strong programming skills in Java, Kotlin, C++, or C# (we love our statically typed object oriented languages!).
- Excellent data modeling skills - extensive experience working with RDBMSs, ETL processes, and data warehousing.
- Experience in a test-driven development environment.
- Acute product sense, placing an emphasis on user experience and outcomes over outputs.
- An iterative mindset - perfect is the enemy of good, and you know when to pay down technical debt vs. when to ship.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity and lead others through it in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience working with foreign function interfaces to call rust and C++ from the JVM
- Experience with Kotlin for backend programming and have an allergy to monolithic frameworks and ORMs
- Experience with TypeScript and React to create complex user interfaces
- A love of astronomy, physics, and science
What We Offer- Competitive Compensation - A salary package aligned with industry standards and your experience.
- Equity Opportunities - Take part in our success with stock options.
- Flexible Work Environment - Enjoy working from our office or in a hybrid work setup with the flexibility to work remotely part of the week. We require a minimum of 3 days per week in our office to support collaboration and team culture. (LA Office only)
- Unlimited PTO - Take the time you need with our flexible, trust-based vacation policy, including paid holidays. We encourage everyone to rest, recharge, and take care of themselves.
- Health & Wellness - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the premium paid by the employer for employees.
- Cutting-Edge Tools - Get access to the latest hardware and software you need to do your best work.
- Mission-Driven Culture - Be part of a team working on meaningful challenges with real-world impact.
- Inclusive Team - We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued.
Salary Range | $180,000 - $200,000
