Job Description
Location: San Francisco, CA - Hybrid (1-2 days a week); local candidates only; no relo
Type: Full-Time / Permanent
Salary: $200k - $230k + stock options
Who We Are
Focal Systems is the industry leader in retail AI solutions. We are a Silicon Valley based startup that has more than doubled in size every year since inception. We are a Deep Learning first company. Our mission is to automate and optimize brick and mortar retail using deep learning computer vision. Focal Systems has been deployed at scale with the top retailers in the world. We are looking for smart, creative and passionate people who want to help build a great and enduring company and deploy Deep Learning to the world!
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and scale our backend systems and data infrastructure. This role is pivotal in ensuring our systems can handle the massive volumes of data generated by our AI solutions. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to create robust, scalable systems that power our data products and services.
As an Engineer, you will have ownership of backend architecture, data pipelines, and storage optimization. This is an opportunity to shape the technical foundation of a rapidly growing AI company and create systems that can scale globally.
Mission of the role
To enable us to scale from 200k to 1 million cameras
What You Will Do
Design, implement, and optimize backend systems to support large-scale data ingestion, transformation, and storage
Own the overall data architecture, including ETL pipelines, data lakes, and warehouses
Develop scalable and maintainable APIs to support both internal and external systems
Architect and manage real-time data streaming pipelines using Apache Kafka to ensure high availability and low-latency processing
Drive optimization efforts for data storage (e.g., partitioning, clustering) to improve query performance
Collaborate with AI and analytics teams to ensure backend infrastructure meets business and product needs
Establish best practices for backend development, data governance, and pipeline monitoring
Lead efforts to enhance reliability, fault tolerance, and security of backend systems
Identify and drive new initiatives to improve efficiency and productivity through automation and process improvements
What You Need to Be Successful
Education: BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
Experience: 7+ years in backend system design and data architecture, with at least 3 years in a lead/architect role
Expertise in cloud platforms like Google Cloud (BigQuery, Dataflow) or AWS (Redshift, Lambda)
Strong knowledge of SQL, Python, and backend frameworks (e.g., Node.js, Django, Flask)
Proven experience designing and optimizing data warehouses and ETL/ELT pipelines
Extensive experience with Apache Kafka, including designing, deploying, and managing Kafka-based streaming pipelines
Proficiency in containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
Familiarity with DBT or similar transformation layer tools
Strong understanding of API design, security best practices, and RESTful principles
Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to manage complex data-driven projects
Recent startup experience preferred
Type: Full-Time / Permanent
Salary: $200k - $230k + stock options
Who We Are
Focal Systems is the industry leader in retail AI solutions. We are a Silicon Valley based startup that has more than doubled in size every year since inception. We are a Deep Learning first company. Our mission is to automate and optimize brick and mortar retail using deep learning computer vision. Focal Systems has been deployed at scale with the top retailers in the world. We are looking for smart, creative and passionate people who want to help build a great and enduring company and deploy Deep Learning to the world!
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and scale our backend systems and data infrastructure. This role is pivotal in ensuring our systems can handle the massive volumes of data generated by our AI solutions. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to create robust, scalable systems that power our data products and services.
As an Engineer, you will have ownership of backend architecture, data pipelines, and storage optimization. This is an opportunity to shape the technical foundation of a rapidly growing AI company and create systems that can scale globally.
Mission of the role
To enable us to scale from 200k to 1 million cameras
What You Will Do
Design, implement, and optimize backend systems to support large-scale data ingestion, transformation, and storage
Own the overall data architecture, including ETL pipelines, data lakes, and warehouses
Develop scalable and maintainable APIs to support both internal and external systems
Architect and manage real-time data streaming pipelines using Apache Kafka to ensure high availability and low-latency processing
Drive optimization efforts for data storage (e.g., partitioning, clustering) to improve query performance
Collaborate with AI and analytics teams to ensure backend infrastructure meets business and product needs
Establish best practices for backend development, data governance, and pipeline monitoring
Lead efforts to enhance reliability, fault tolerance, and security of backend systems
Identify and drive new initiatives to improve efficiency and productivity through automation and process improvements
What You Need to Be Successful
Education: BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
Experience: 7+ years in backend system design and data architecture, with at least 3 years in a lead/architect role
Expertise in cloud platforms like Google Cloud (BigQuery, Dataflow) or AWS (Redshift, Lambda)
Strong knowledge of SQL, Python, and backend frameworks (e.g., Node.js, Django, Flask)
Proven experience designing and optimizing data warehouses and ETL/ELT pipelines
Extensive experience with Apache Kafka, including designing, deploying, and managing Kafka-based streaming pipelines
Proficiency in containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
Familiarity with DBT or similar transformation layer tools
Strong understanding of API design, security best practices, and RESTful principles
Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to manage complex data-driven projects
Recent startup experience preferred
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Senior Software Engineer San Francisco, CA position is now open for candidates interested in the Software Developer Jobs sector. This role in San Francisco offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Software Developer Jobs is a plus.
