Artificial Intelligence, Software Development, Data Science

Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Seattle, WAOnsiteFull TimeStaff$175,000–$265,000 /yrPosted 1 month agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

backend systems
AI-driven workflows
real-time inference
tool orchestration
long-running processes
scalability
reliability
performance
maintainability
0→1 systems

Nice to have

AI/ML systems
LLMs
agentic workflows
high-growth startups
early-stage startups
TypeScript

Role summary

Gradial is seeking a Staff Software Engineer, Backend to tackle complex and ambiguous technical challenges, focusing on building the backend foundations for AI-driven workflows. This hands-on role involves owning critical systems from conception through production, making architectural decisions, and writing production code. The engineer will lead large technical projects, architect scalable and reliable backend systems, and establish patterns to improve engineering effectiveness. Key responsibilities include driving technical direction, building new systems, and partnering with product and design. The role requires 8+ years of backend experience, deep expertise in software architecture and distributed systems, and a track record of leading complex projects. Experience with AI/ML systems and TypeScript is a plus. The position is based in Seattle and offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Gradial is building the AI-native system of work for enterprise marketing. Our agents turn ideas into live campaigns by executing across the tools, teams, and workflows enterprises already use—from content authoring and campaign assembly to quality assurance and brand compliance. We give marketers and creatives more time to shape brands, understand customers, and create work that moves people.We’re tackling some of the hardest problems in applied AI: building agent harnesses, sandboxed execution environments, and orchestration that enable agents to plan, act, and verify their work reliably at enterprise scale. We’re growing rapidly, winning Fortune 500 and enterprise customers including AWS, T-Mobile, and Prudential. Our $65 million Series C led by Insight Partners is accelerating that momentum.Join us to help define how people and AI agents work together. We move with urgency, reason from first principles, and take ownership from idea to customer impact. You’ll shape the product, own consequential problems, and build systems that some of the world’s leading brands depend on every day.

The Role

Gradial is looking for a Staff Software Engineer, Backend to take on some of the largest, most complex and ambiguous technical problems across our product. You’ll own critical systems from loosely defined problem through architecture and production, building the backend foundations that enable Gradial to deliver increasingly powerful AI-driven workflows.

This is a highly hands-on IC role. You’ll write production code, make consequential architectural decisions and create clarity where the path forward is not obvious. You’ll work closely with engineering, product and design to turn ambitious ideas into reliable systems while raising the technical bar across the engineering team.

What You’ll Own

Lead large, complex technical projects from ambiguous problem definition through architecture, implementation and production

Architect and build backend systems that power AI-driven workflows, including real-time inference, tool orchestration and long-running processes

Drive technical direction for critical systems with a focus on scalability, reliability, performance and long-term maintainability

Turn loosely defined product and technical problems into clear plans, making pragmatic decisions and driving execution without requiring a predefined path

Build new systems from 0→1 while evolving existing architecture as our product, customers and engineering organization scale

Establish patterns and abstractions that simplify complex systems and make the broader engineering team more effective

Partner closely with product and design to shape solutions, identify technical opportunities and make thoughtful tradeoffs

Raise the engineering bar through technical leadership, architecture, code reviews and mentorship while remaining deeply involved in implementation

Own systems end to end, including testing, deployment, observability, reliability and ongoing operation in production

What We Need

8+ years of professional software engineering experience with significant experience building and operating backend systems

Proven ability to independently lead large, technically complex projects in fast-moving or ambiguous environments

Deep technical expertise in software architecture, distributed systems, algorithms and system design

Track record of taking products or systems from 0→1 and making sound architectural decisions with incomplete information

Ability to break down vague, high-variance problems into clear technical approaches and drive them through execution

Strong product judgment and the ability to balance technical quality, speed and customer impact

Experience designing systems for scalability, reliability, performance and maintainability in production

Strong communication skills with the ability to influence technical decisions and align engineers and cross-functional partners

High ownership mindset with a willingness to work across boundaries and own both the problem and the solution

Nice to Have

Experience building products or infrastructure involving AI/ML systems, LLMs or agentic workflows

Experience in high-growth or early-stage startups where technical scope and priorities change quickly

Proficiency with TypeScript or similar languages

The salary range for this position is $175,000 – $265,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, and qualifications.

What we offer

Performance-based annual bonus

Meaningful equity awards

Medical, dental & vision (fully covered for employees with 75% for dependents)

Fertility & family-planning support

401k plan

Unlimited PTO

A beautiful Seattle office with a gym, sauna, and bike parking

Free lunch three days a week in our HQ

A front-row seat to building category-defining AI infrastructure

You'll thrive here if you

Learn quickly, actively seek out new challenges, and regularly reconsider “how it’s always been done.”

Want to have real impact with zero bureaucracy.

Have an innate drive for being 1% better than the day before, building towards greatness.

Embrace AI as a core tool for problem-solving, innovation, and scale.

Show customer-obsession (internal or external), high ownership/accountability, and bias for action.

Communicate clearly, directly, with curiosity, and assuming good intentions.

Thrive in fast-paced, hyper-growth environments where building better > maintaining status quo.

AI Literacy & Interviewing Tools

As an AI-first company, we prioritize AI literacy as a core competency in our hiring decisions. We’re excited by candidates who thoughtfully apply AI tools in their work, but during interviews we’re focused on you. This is your opportunity to show how you think, communicate, and solve problems. Over-reliance on AI-generated responses during the interview process (especially when it obscures your own voice) will result in disqualification. We want to understand your unique perspective and how you approach challenges, both with and without AI.

Gradial is dedicated to creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and all team members can grow. We offer competitive compensation, equity, flexible work hours, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative culture focused on learning and impact.

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