Allen Institute for AI
Senior Full-Stack Engineer Design Technologist FocusSeattle, WA
Allen Institute for AI, Seattle, Washington, United States, 98101
Senior Full-Stack Engineer
Design Technologist Focus
Persons in these roles are expected to spend part of their time on-site in our Seattle offices and may occasionally work remotely from their home in the Greater Seattle area. On-site requirements vary based on position and team. If you have questions about Hybrid work arrangements for this role, please ask your recruiter. Our base salary range is $149,880 - $220,320, and in addition we have generous bonus plans to provide a competitive compensation package. Who You Are:
We're looking for senior full-stack engineers who lean front-end and enjoy the ambiguity, speed, and ownership typical of small product teams. In this role, you'll work across surfaces
from user-facing web apps to internal design systems
with a focus on delivering high-quality interfaces that support a range of Ai2 initiatives. You'll work closely with engineers, researchers, designers, and leadership to understand needs, define solutions, and execute. We value pragmatism and collaboration over rigid process, and we expect engineers to help define what gets built
not just how. This role is ideal for someone who wants to: Deliver polished, user-centered software at a rapid pace Shape product direction and collaborate across disciplines Operate with autonomy and responsibility in a small, high-leverage team We support your success with: Continuous learning
including conference budgets, course reimbursements, and regular knowledge sharing Modern tooling
CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and production monitoring 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents Retirement plan with generous employer match Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and holidays Parental leave And much more Who We Are: You'll join a small, highly effective team of engineers building user-facing software for researchers, product users, and the broader AI community. We ship fast, partner closely with product and design, and take pride in delivering tools that are secure, accessible, and user-centered. Our team owns all key parts of the Ai2 web presence
including our model playground, demos, websites, and an Ai2 component library. We're looking to hire a senior software engineer to help us expand these efforts. You'll thrive here if you're startup-minded and enjoy shaping product direction, collaborating across roles, and building well-crafted software in an iterative environment where not everything is decided for you upfront. You'll play a key role in shaping how cutting-edge research reaches the world
from prototyping new ideas to refining user experience in production tools. Your Next Challenge: The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: Design, build, and maintain web applications using React and TypeScript Collaborate across functions to gather requirements, propose solutions, and ship high-impact features Contribute to a wide range of projects: public-facing apps, research demos, and our component library Identify when to generalize for reuse vs. move quickly with purpose-built code Ensure software is secure, accessible, and performant Navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities while maintaining quality and velocity Build intuitive, user-centered products with strong empathy for end users Advocate for accessibility, testing, and sustainable engineering practices Participate in and lead code reviews, design discussions, and architectural decisions Demonstrate curiosity, pragmatism, and shared ownership to help shape team culture Help build a productive, ownership-driven engineering culture The ideal candidate is curious, reliable, and collaborative, with the ability to thrive in an environment that moves quickly and values autonomy. You're someone who: Enjoys exploring new ideas and product directions, even when things aren't fully defined. You're comfortable jumping into ambiguity, prototyping early, and iterating with others. Takes ownership of your work and follows through. You hold a high bar for quality, know when to generalize and when to move fast, and care about building things that last. Communicates clearly and works well across disciplines. You speak up when needed but also know when to listen. You're a thoughtful partner in discussions
not someone trying to win the room. Leads with empathy and builds strong relationships. You collaborate with humility, support your teammates, and take pride in helping others succeed
whether it's mentoring, code review, or pairing. Stays grounded in fast-moving contexts. You handle shifting priorities and incomplete information with calm focus, and you're good at making steady progress even when not everything is figured out yet. This isn't a role for someone who needs tight direction
it's a good fit for builders who want to help define the work, not just execute it. What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months): Ship meaningful features across multiple user-facing surfaces. Contribute to a wide range of projects, including public-facing apps, research demos, and our internal component library
helping define, implement, and evolve reusable, accessible UI components in collaboration with design. Build strong relationships with product, design, and research partners. Propose and lead an improvement to our tooling, process, or product. What You'll Need: Required Qualifications: 7+ years of software engineering experience, including building and shipping web applications Strong proficiency with HTML, React, TypeScript, CSS and modern front-end architectures Strong proficiency with React, TypeScript, and CSS
including experience with modern frontend architectures like Next.js, utility-first CSS frameworks like PandaCSS or Tailwind Comfortable working across the stack and diving into Python back-end code as needed Experience building and integrating with back-end services, APIs (including GraphQL), and data pipelines using FastAPI, Flask, or Node.js Ability to reason across the stack
from browser behavior and UI state to server-side logic and data modeling A basic understanding of UNIX development tools like git and bash Demonstrated success delivering in fast-paced, ambiguous environments (e.g., startups, early product teams) Strong collaboration skills and experience working effectively across roles Ability to operate independently: gather requirements, scope work, and deliver with minimal oversight Experience participating in product discovery or roadmap planning Comfortable using a variety of design applications (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) Capable of producing web-optimized image and media assets Advanced technical ability with SVG production and manipulation Able to assess and ensure the design fidelity of their own work Preferred Qualifications: Familiarity with Next.js, DatoCMS, React Aria Components, Webpack, PandaCSS, and/or similar technologies Experience contributing to or maintaining a component library or design system Familiarity with tools like Storybook, design tokens, and component documentation practices Strong design instincts and the ability to build intuitive UIs without finalized mocks Experience supporting research demos or prototyping workflows Physical Demands and Work Environment: Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. The ability to observe details at close range. Can work under deadlines. A Little More About Ai2: Ai2 is a Seattle based non-profit AI research institute founded in
Design Technologist Focus
Persons in these roles are expected to spend part of their time on-site in our Seattle offices and may occasionally work remotely from their home in the Greater Seattle area. On-site requirements vary based on position and team. If you have questions about Hybrid work arrangements for this role, please ask your recruiter. Our base salary range is $149,880 - $220,320, and in addition we have generous bonus plans to provide a competitive compensation package. Who You Are:
We're looking for senior full-stack engineers who lean front-end and enjoy the ambiguity, speed, and ownership typical of small product teams. In this role, you'll work across surfaces
from user-facing web apps to internal design systems
with a focus on delivering high-quality interfaces that support a range of Ai2 initiatives. You'll work closely with engineers, researchers, designers, and leadership to understand needs, define solutions, and execute. We value pragmatism and collaboration over rigid process, and we expect engineers to help define what gets built
not just how. This role is ideal for someone who wants to: Deliver polished, user-centered software at a rapid pace Shape product direction and collaborate across disciplines Operate with autonomy and responsibility in a small, high-leverage team We support your success with: Continuous learning
including conference budgets, course reimbursements, and regular knowledge sharing Modern tooling
CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and production monitoring 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents Retirement plan with generous employer match Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and holidays Parental leave And much more Who We Are: You'll join a small, highly effective team of engineers building user-facing software for researchers, product users, and the broader AI community. We ship fast, partner closely with product and design, and take pride in delivering tools that are secure, accessible, and user-centered. Our team owns all key parts of the Ai2 web presence
including our model playground, demos, websites, and an Ai2 component library. We're looking to hire a senior software engineer to help us expand these efforts. You'll thrive here if you're startup-minded and enjoy shaping product direction, collaborating across roles, and building well-crafted software in an iterative environment where not everything is decided for you upfront. You'll play a key role in shaping how cutting-edge research reaches the world
from prototyping new ideas to refining user experience in production tools. Your Next Challenge: The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: Design, build, and maintain web applications using React and TypeScript Collaborate across functions to gather requirements, propose solutions, and ship high-impact features Contribute to a wide range of projects: public-facing apps, research demos, and our component library Identify when to generalize for reuse vs. move quickly with purpose-built code Ensure software is secure, accessible, and performant Navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities while maintaining quality and velocity Build intuitive, user-centered products with strong empathy for end users Advocate for accessibility, testing, and sustainable engineering practices Participate in and lead code reviews, design discussions, and architectural decisions Demonstrate curiosity, pragmatism, and shared ownership to help shape team culture Help build a productive, ownership-driven engineering culture The ideal candidate is curious, reliable, and collaborative, with the ability to thrive in an environment that moves quickly and values autonomy. You're someone who: Enjoys exploring new ideas and product directions, even when things aren't fully defined. You're comfortable jumping into ambiguity, prototyping early, and iterating with others. Takes ownership of your work and follows through. You hold a high bar for quality, know when to generalize and when to move fast, and care about building things that last. Communicates clearly and works well across disciplines. You speak up when needed but also know when to listen. You're a thoughtful partner in discussions
not someone trying to win the room. Leads with empathy and builds strong relationships. You collaborate with humility, support your teammates, and take pride in helping others succeed
whether it's mentoring, code review, or pairing. Stays grounded in fast-moving contexts. You handle shifting priorities and incomplete information with calm focus, and you're good at making steady progress even when not everything is figured out yet. This isn't a role for someone who needs tight direction
it's a good fit for builders who want to help define the work, not just execute it. What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months): Ship meaningful features across multiple user-facing surfaces. Contribute to a wide range of projects, including public-facing apps, research demos, and our internal component library
helping define, implement, and evolve reusable, accessible UI components in collaboration with design. Build strong relationships with product, design, and research partners. Propose and lead an improvement to our tooling, process, or product. What You'll Need: Required Qualifications: 7+ years of software engineering experience, including building and shipping web applications Strong proficiency with HTML, React, TypeScript, CSS and modern front-end architectures Strong proficiency with React, TypeScript, and CSS
including experience with modern frontend architectures like Next.js, utility-first CSS frameworks like PandaCSS or Tailwind Comfortable working across the stack and diving into Python back-end code as needed Experience building and integrating with back-end services, APIs (including GraphQL), and data pipelines using FastAPI, Flask, or Node.js Ability to reason across the stack
from browser behavior and UI state to server-side logic and data modeling A basic understanding of UNIX development tools like git and bash Demonstrated success delivering in fast-paced, ambiguous environments (e.g., startups, early product teams) Strong collaboration skills and experience working effectively across roles Ability to operate independently: gather requirements, scope work, and deliver with minimal oversight Experience participating in product discovery or roadmap planning Comfortable using a variety of design applications (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) Capable of producing web-optimized image and media assets Advanced technical ability with SVG production and manipulation Able to assess and ensure the design fidelity of their own work Preferred Qualifications: Familiarity with Next.js, DatoCMS, React Aria Components, Webpack, PandaCSS, and/or similar technologies Experience contributing to or maintaining a component library or design system Familiarity with tools like Storybook, design tokens, and component documentation practices Strong design instincts and the ability to build intuitive UIs without finalized mocks Experience supporting research demos or prototyping workflows Physical Demands and Work Environment: Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. The ability to observe details at close range. Can work under deadlines. A Little More About Ai2: Ai2 is a Seattle based non-profit AI research institute founded in