Trust In SODA
Staff Engineer / API Lead
Mission-Driven AI Startup (New York City)
Want to own the core APIs powering an AI product used by millions around the world? A fast-growing language learning startup (name currently under wraps ) is gearing up for a pivotal 2025 and needs a
Staff Engineer / API Lead
to architect, build, and scale the heart of their platform.
If you're the kind of engineer who loves big technical challenges, thrives in high-output environments, and wants your work to have real human impact - this is the place.
What Youll Do
Own the design and evolution of the companys core APIs , from architecture to implementation Build scalable, reliable backend services that power real-time, AI-driven learning experiences Lead technical direction across teams; set standards, review designs, mentor engineers Drive platform performance, observability, cost optimisation, and cloud infrastructure decisions Collaborate directly with product and engineering leadership to shape the roadmap Stay hands-on: writing high-impact code, improving systems, and solving tough technical problems Why This Role Is Unique
You will literally own the backbone of the platformthe APIs that everything else relies on Join during a defining hyper-growth phase where technical decisions have huge leverage High autonomy, high trust, and the chance to influence engineering culture from the ground up Direct collaboration with founders and engineering leadership Mission-first environment focused on unlocking learning for kids everywhere What You Bring
710+ years of backend or distributed systems experience, ideally at scale Deep expertise with
AWS , including services, architecture patterns, and cost-aware design Strong experience with
Kubernetes , containers, and modern cloud infrastructure Proven experience designing and scaling APIs (REST, GraphQL, gRPCany production-grade interface) Strong coding skills in
Python, Go , or similar backend languages Experience influencing or leading technical direction across teams Startup-ready mindset: ownership, speed, and a bias for high-impact execution Bonus:
Familiarity or interest in
Rust
for systems-level or performance-sensitive components Who You Are
A strategic thinker who still loves writing code Someone who enjoys architecting complex systems and making them elegant A force multiplieryour impact makes the whole team faster and better Comfortable in fast-paced, ambiguity-heavy environments Drawn to mission-driven work where the results matter Location & Eligibility
Hyrbid in New York City
(this role requires close collaboration with the founding and engineering teams) Full US work authorization required (no sponsorship) If you want to build core systems, shape engineering standards, and see your work translate into life-changing tools for kids learning languagesthis is the opportunity.
Mission-Driven AI Startup (New York City)
Want to own the core APIs powering an AI product used by millions around the world? A fast-growing language learning startup (name currently under wraps ) is gearing up for a pivotal 2025 and needs a
Staff Engineer / API Lead
to architect, build, and scale the heart of their platform.
If you're the kind of engineer who loves big technical challenges, thrives in high-output environments, and wants your work to have real human impact - this is the place.
What Youll Do
Own the design and evolution of the companys core APIs , from architecture to implementation Build scalable, reliable backend services that power real-time, AI-driven learning experiences Lead technical direction across teams; set standards, review designs, mentor engineers Drive platform performance, observability, cost optimisation, and cloud infrastructure decisions Collaborate directly with product and engineering leadership to shape the roadmap Stay hands-on: writing high-impact code, improving systems, and solving tough technical problems Why This Role Is Unique
You will literally own the backbone of the platformthe APIs that everything else relies on Join during a defining hyper-growth phase where technical decisions have huge leverage High autonomy, high trust, and the chance to influence engineering culture from the ground up Direct collaboration with founders and engineering leadership Mission-first environment focused on unlocking learning for kids everywhere What You Bring
710+ years of backend or distributed systems experience, ideally at scale Deep expertise with
AWS , including services, architecture patterns, and cost-aware design Strong experience with
Kubernetes , containers, and modern cloud infrastructure Proven experience designing and scaling APIs (REST, GraphQL, gRPCany production-grade interface) Strong coding skills in
Python, Go , or similar backend languages Experience influencing or leading technical direction across teams Startup-ready mindset: ownership, speed, and a bias for high-impact execution Bonus:
Familiarity or interest in
Rust
for systems-level or performance-sensitive components Who You Are
A strategic thinker who still loves writing code Someone who enjoys architecting complex systems and making them elegant A force multiplieryour impact makes the whole team faster and better Comfortable in fast-paced, ambiguity-heavy environments Drawn to mission-driven work where the results matter Location & Eligibility
Hyrbid in New York City
(this role requires close collaboration with the founding and engineering teams) Full US work authorization required (no sponsorship) If you want to build core systems, shape engineering standards, and see your work translate into life-changing tools for kids learning languagesthis is the opportunity.