Software Development Engineer,SDE
📍 Location: San Francisco (Onsite / Hybrid)
About Topify.ai
Topify.ai is a Silicon Valley–based technology company pioneering Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — the world’s first dedicated approach to optimizing brand visibility in AI-driven search.
We help clients improve accuracy, visibility, and conversion performance across LLM search, AI-driven recommendations, and multimodal generation platforms.
Backed by over $10M in funding , our team brings experience from Stanford, Kuaishou, and Tencent , blending expertise in algorithms, strategy, creativity, brand investment, and execution.
As a Founding Member + Head of Engineering , you’ll not only lead the technical direction, but also write core code yourself , working side by side with the founding team to bring the platform from 0 →1.
Responsibilities
- Hands-on coding: Take ownership of core backend and infrastructure code, ensuring high quality and performance in the critical path.
- Technical leadership: Define the technical architecture, engineering vision, and long-term roadmap for the platform.
- Backend architecture : Build a microservices ecosystem with Spring Boot 3 + Kotlin/Java, designing high-concurrency APIs, task scheduling, and access control systems.
- Data infrastructure : Design and optimize PostgreSQL models and queries, powering large-scale data collection, ETL pipelines, and real-time analytics.
- System evolution: Drive caching, messaging, CI/CD, and containerized deployment, ensuring performance and scalability.
- Team building: While coding, help build and mentor an engineering team, shaping the company’s engineering culture and practices.
- Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with frontend and algorithm teams to integrate LLM-driven intelligence into data analytics products.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or higher degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related fields.
- Strong coding expertise in Kotlin/Java + Spring Boot 3.
- Proficiency with PostgreSQL, Redis, Linux, Docker/Compose or Podman.
- Experience with distributed systems, async task handling, and high-concurrency architecture.
- A founder’s mindset: self-driven, hands-on, and comfortable taking responsibility across architecture, coding, and team leadership.
Nice to Have
- Experience with Kafka, Flink, Redis, or other distributed systems.
- Experience with headless crawlers or large-scale data processing.
- Background in AI Agent development or LLM integration, understanding data + AI use cases.
- Prior experience as a Tech Lead or Founding Engineer in an early-stage startup.
What We Offer
- Hands-on challenges : work daily on massive data pipelines, low-latency services, and cross-platform deployment.
- Growth path: clear trajectory from Core Engineer → Tech Lead → Head of Engineering.
- Collaboration: work closely with Stanford researchers and senior architects from Tencent/Kuaishou, combining academic insight with industry expertise.
- Long-term opportunities: support for CPT/OPT/H1B, with official headcount and global growth potential.