Demo

Lead Backend Software Engineer ($185K – $240K + Equity) at well-funded aviation AI startup

Jack & Jill
San Carlos, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 6/2/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/1/2026
This is a job that Jill, our AI Recruiter, is recruiting for on behalf of one of our customers.

She will pick the best candidates from Jack's network.

The next step is to speak to Jack.

Job Title

Lead Backend Software Engineer

Salary

$185K – $240K Equity

Company Description

Well-funded aviation AI startup backed by top investors and holding multiple DoD contracts

Job Description

Join a high-performance team of aviators and engineers building mission-critical AI platforms to revolutionize flight safety. As a lead backend engineer, you will architect scalable distributed systems and real-time data pipelines that directly influence pilot safety. You'll own features from concept to deployment in a fast-moving, hybrid environment based in San Carlos.

Location

San Carlos, USA

Why this role is remarkable

  • Work on technology that saves lives by transforming how pilots interact with aircraft and enhancing flight operational efficiency.
  • Join a financially healthy startup with a dozen Department of Defense contracts and major airline partnerships already in place.
  • Enjoy a high-impact, low-silo environment with 100% covered medical premiums and a modern tech stack focused on shipping quickly.

What You Will Do

  • Architect, build, and maintain mission-critical backend services and distributed systems using Python and Node.js.
  • Design and implement secure, scalable APIs and real-time data streaming pipelines for internal and external integrations.
  • Lead technical design discussions and code reviews while troubleshooting complex cloud infrastructure to ensure high availability.

The ideal candidate

  • Possesses 5 years of experience designing and scaling backend services and APIs in production-grade environments.
  • Demonstrates fluency in modern backend languages including Python and JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js) with a strong ownership mindset.
  • Meets U.S. export control requirements as a U.S. Person (Citizen or Green Card holder) due to sensitive defense contracts.

Who are Jack & Jill?

Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.

And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.

How does this work?

  • Jack's an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
  • Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack's network.
  • If it's a match and the company wants to meet you, they'll make the intro. In the meantime, if you'd like, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.

We never post fake jobs

This isn't a trick. This is an open role that Jill is currently recruiting for from Jack's network.

Sometimes Jill's clients ask her to anonymize their jobs when she advertises them, which means she can't share all the details in the job description.

We appreciate this can make them look a bit suspect, but there isn't much we can do about it.

Give Jack a spin! You could land this role. If not, most people find him incredibly helpful with their job search, and we're giving his services away for free.

Salary : $185,000 - $240,000

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