Staff Software Engineer

Zest for Tech is a health-tech startup utilizing AI to assist users with mental health and life challenges. They are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to design and evolve backend systems, shape technical direction, and build robust AI-enabled software during a crucial growth phase.

Responsibilities:

• Design and evolve backend systems that scale with real users, high traffic, and real world constraints
• Shape technical direction by proposing architectures, abstractions, and service boundaries that create long term leverage
• Take loosely defined problems and turn them into clear, testable solutions through iteration and experimentation
• Build and refine APIs and services that support complex workflows and data-driven products
• Work across system boundaries when needed from infrastructure and reliability to developer experience and product flows
• Set a high bar for engineering quality through hands-on contribution, review, and technical leadership

Requirements:

• Extensive experience building and operating production software systems
• Strong backend engineering skills, with Python as a primary language
• Proven experience designing APIs (REST and/or GraphQL) and service-oriented architectures
• Background working with distributed systems and cloud platforms (GCP or similar)
• Confidence designing systems that handle concurrency, scale, and operational reliability
• Sound engineering judgment around testing strategies, performance trade-offs, and system resilience
• Experience influencing technical decisions beyond your immediate scope or team
• Comfort working in environments where requirements evolve and solutions emerge through discovery