Navi — Founding Software Engineer

• →Build and scale the backend and data infrastructure behind the AI debrief platform, from ingestion of multimodal flight audio and telemetry through to streamed, structured output
• →Integrate flight dynamics, telemetry, and cockpit audio into debrief and training systems used by flight schools and military operators
• →Own the architecture decisions that determine how the platform scales, including framework selection, infrastructure choices, and long-lived technical bets
• →Work directly with pilots, instructors, and military operators, and turn their feedback into engineering decisions
• →Ship production code across the full stack and iterate against real operator use, not hypotheticals
• →Set engineering culture, code standards, and the hiring bar from the founding stage

Tech stack: Python, TypeScript, full-stack web, real-time multimodal data pipelines (audio + telemetry), AWS, CI/CD, containerization

• A current FAA pilot certificate at private pilot level or above, up to and including CFII or ATP. This one is firm — the role genuinely requires cockpit context, and candidates without a certificate will not be considered
• At least five years of professional software engineering experience, with a demonstrable record of designing, building, and running complex systems in production
• Strong depth in at least one of backend systems, distributed infrastructure, data engineering, or full-stack development, and the range to work comfortably across backend and frontend
• Working proficiency in both Python and TypeScript, which are the languages in use in the codebase
• A history of leading projects from initial scoping and technical design all the way through launch and iteration, with very little direction
• Sound architectural judgment, and experience building for scale, reliability, and performance
• A scrappy, entrepreneurial background — time at early-stage startups, or a clear record of getting things done where no playbook existed
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and moving quickly without letting quality slip
• A habit of lifting the standard around you through code review and mentoring
• Willingness to work startup hours on-site in San Francisco five days a week

• Hands-on work with modern data pipelines, real-time systems, or AI/ML integration
• Something you built from nothing that real people ended up using
• Practical experience with AWS, CI/CD, containers, and deployment tooling
• Exposure to aviation systems, avionics data formats, flight training workflows, or defense technology environments
• Real aviation context beyond the certificate itself
• A previous founding or lead engineering role at an aviation or otherwise deeply technical startup
• A full-stack track record where you held architectural ownership rather than executing someone else's design
• Experience with multimodal or real-time pipelines, including audio diarization, signal processing, or speech-to-text at the application layer
• Regular use of AI-assisted development tools in your day-to-day workflow
• Genuine readiness for the grind of a very early company

• Location — San Francisco, CA
• Work policy — On-site, five days per week, startup hours
• Compensation — $200,000 – $250,000 + competitive equity
• Experience — 5+ years
• Visa sponsorship — Not available for this role
• Employment type — Full-time