Software Engineer, Back-End (Stealth PortCo)
San Francisco
Stealth Mode Portfolio Company /
Full-Time /
Hybrid
Overview of Role
Heretic Ventures is seeking an experienced Software Engineer with Python experience to join an early stage generative AI consumer business that Heretic Ventures is launching.
The ideal candidate has experience in building scalable and reliable back-end systems and is ready to work in a hands-on environment with new technologies and architectures in a flexible, small but exceptional, forward-thinking organization that’s always pushing boundaries. This entrepreneurial person has experimented with and knows about a variety of AI technologies and their APIs, and can use that experience to tackle new challenges.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a breakthrough company from the ground up while learning from successful repeat entrepreneurs and a stable of powerful and experienced mentors and advisors.
This is a hybrid role with the expectation of partial in-person work in our sunny Presidio, SF office. The position is compensated with salary, benefits, and equity.
About Heretic
Heretic Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture studio ideating and launching new businesses in the creator economy, including those that capitalize on AI/ML technology. Heretic is run by Managing Partner Mariam Naficy, who founded and built the pioneering internet companies Minted and Eve.com. Heretic is backed by household names in Silicon Valley (investors and entrepreneurs), who act as the studio’s advisors both in selecting and in advising companies.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain robust and scalable back-end systems using Python and related technologies.
- Production use of LLMs and Prompt Engineering
- Help drive technical decisions and design to ensure high-quality code and adherence to best practices.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including AI scientists, PMs, and engineers, to build and integrate AI-driven features into the platform.
- Optimize system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure smooth operation of the platform.
- Develop and maintain documentation, including technical specifications, system diagrams, and deployment processes.
- Help ensure the security and integrity of the platform
- Conduct ongoing monitoring of the platform and promptly take necessary actions as required.
- Stay up to date with emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices to continuously improve our platform.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Experience with Large Language Model (LLM) APIs and an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
- 3+ years of professional experience as a Software Engineer, with a strong focus on development using Python.
- Proficient in working with relational databases, such as PostgreSQL or MySQL, and knowledge of SQL query optimization.
- Proven track record of delivering complex, scalable, and high-performance software systems.
- Solid understanding of software engineering principles, data structures, and algorithms.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, agile environment.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Entrepreneurial and ownership mindset with bias for action.
Nice to Haves
- Experience with (or desire to learn) a variety of generative AI technologies, such as diffusion models (e.g., Stable Diffusion), LLMs (e.g., GPT) and deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch)
- Proficient with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP) and containerization technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
- Experience with designing and implementing RESTful APIs with Flask and integrating third-party services.
- Previous startup experience, especially in an early-stage, fast paced environment
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
