Software Developer – Backend (AI-Powered CAD Startup)

Design, build, and maintain robust, scalable backend services in Python.
Develop APIs and backend components that power Hestus' AI-driven CAD workflows and improve overall system performance.
Collaborate with founders and cross-functional partners to define, design, and ship new product features.
Participate in code reviews, testing, and debugging to ensure high-quality, reliable software.
Implement and integrate machine-learning models and algorithms into production features (with support from the ML team).
Diagnose and resolve production issues; improve observability and reliability over time.
Contribute across the full development lifecycle, from early technical design through launch and iteration.
Stay current on relevant backend, cloud, and ML tooling and bring practical, modern solutions back to the team.

Strong Python and modern software engineering practices (testing, code review, version control)
Experience building backend services and APIs (Flask, Django, or similar)
Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases — able to design, query, and optimize schemas
Comfortable with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or similar) and deploying production services
Track record of taking research or prototype code into reliable, production-grade systems
Research depth (required) The client is benchmarking against:
PhD from a top ML or systems program (Michigan, CMU, Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UIUC, or equivalent), or an equivalent body of novel systems work
Published research at top venues (NeurIPS, ICCV, ICML, IEEE) — 7+ peer-reviewed publications is the benchmark
Custom PyTorch implementations of novel modules — not wrappers around existing libraries
Hands-on edge deployment experience

Work authorization:
US citizen or existing work authorization that does not require future sponsorship
Candidates on OPT/F1 will not be considered

Will not be considered:
Strong LLM-API integrators with no novel ML work
Startup CTOs whose primary signal is the title
Candidates without published research or equivalent evidence of novel systems work.

Ideal Candidate:
Product-minded builder who loves turning ideas into reliable, maintainable code. You’re fluent in Python, comfortable with backend frameworks like Flask or Django, and you care about performance, correctness, and clean abstractions. You’re curious about how ML can power better tools, even if you’re not an ML expert yet, and you’re excited to work closely with founders and customers to ship the right thing — not just more lines of code. Most of all, you like small teams, high ownership, and the idea of spending the next few years working on a single, hard problem: making AI-powered CAD the new standard for hardware design.

Must-Have Requirements:
Based in the US with existing work authorization; US citizen/visa only, and able to work primarily on-site in San Mateo, CA.
Hands-on experience with SQL and relational databases in a production or serious project setting.

Strong proficiency in Python and experience building backend services with Flask or Django.

Published peer-reviewed research (NeurIPS, ICCV, ICML, IEEE, or equivalent) or demonstrated body of novel ML systems work — LLM/API integration does not qualify.

Benefits:
· Health Insurance
· Vision Insurance
· Dental Insurance
· US citizen/visa only
· Competitive salary and meaningful equity options.
· Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
· Catered team lunch in the San Mateo office.
· Unlimited / flexible time off.
· High-ownership role on a small, senior founding team (YC-backed).
· Opportunities for rapid growth and learning building AI-powered CAD