Senior Software Engineer - Backend

Job Description

**S:23 - AI**

**Location: On-site, Rosslyn, VA or Seattle, WA**

**Salary: $200,000 - $230,000 Base + Equity**

**About the Role**

Our client builds the software that's replacing whiteboards and tile magnets in US military logistics - literally the tools commanders have been using to plan sustainment in the field. Its platform, TyrOS, gives them a real-time operating picture instead, and it's already deployed across the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force. Founded in 2024 by a team out of Anduril, they have tripled headcount since January, hit its annual sales target seven months early, and just closed a $40M Series A.

They're now hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to build out Saga, the GenAI layer sitting on top of TyrOS, from scratch. This isn't a "maintain what's there" role, there isn't much there yet. You'll be deciding how the RAG architecture, LLM integrations, agentic workflows and retrieval pipelines actually get built, then owning the backend systems underneath them.

**Key Responsibilities**

* Lead the GenAI engineering effort for Saga, their AI offering built on top of TyrOS
* Design and ship production RAG architectures, LLM integrations, agentic workflows, and retrieval pipelines from the ground up
* Own backend system architecture, including APIs, async workflows, data pipelines, observability, and reliability patterns
* Make architectural tradeoffs in ambiguous product environments with minimal direction
* Support deployed engineers remotely via an on-call rotation

**What We're Looking For**

* 6-8 years of backend software engineering experience, including at least 4 years building production GenAI/LLM systems (RAG, agents, tool use, evals, retrieval pipelines) - not just prototypes or demos
* Strong backend and distributed systems depth, with the ability to design and ship services, APIs, queues, storage, and data pipelines, not just prompt logic
* Senior-level ownership and autonomy, with a track record of taking a vague problem, defining the system, shipping it, and iterating without heavy direction
* Must be able to pass a live coding interview without AI assistance
* Must be a US citizen or Green Card holder - this is a defense contractor role with no visa sponsorship available

**Why Join?**

* Own the buildout of a GenAI platform from zero, with real budget and urgency behind it
* Join a well-funded, fast-growing company (backed by top-tier VCs) shipping software that directly impacts military decision-making
* Work alongside a small, flat, mission-driven team of around 65 people, blending Silicon Valley engineers with military veterans
* Competitive compensation package including equity
* Visa sponsorship not available - US citizens or Green Card holders only