Software Engineer
At a glance
Mid-level Software Engineering role at Chalk. New York · full-time · $170,000–$280,000 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Build, release and maintain substantial parts of the query planning and execution engine
- Write software in C++, Python and Rust
- Improve the platform quickly as customer needs change
- Work directly with Chalk’s co-founders on engineering
What you bring
- At least four years of professional backend software engineering experience
- A strong grasp of computer science fundamentals and experience building and maintaining production systems
- You can lead new component development, take responsibility for existing software and make practical tradeoffs independently
- A bachelor’s in computer science or an equivalent qualification
Who this fits
This role suits an autonomous engineer who learns quickly, communicates well and is comfortable owning backend systems work. You’ll work in person in the New York office five days a week; it is not a hybrid role.
From the employer
About Chalk
Chalk (chalk.ai) is the platform for production AI. Trusted by enterprises including Whatnot, Grindr, Mission Lane, Turo, and Apartment List, Chalk brings together context, runtime, and learning for agents and models. Chalk’s Context Engine delivers live context by querying data across warehouses, databases, streams, and APIs, straight from the source. Chalk’s runtime powers agents and models with infrastructure and governed access to LLMs and tools. Together, these capabilities help teams build AI that understands their business, continuously improves, and runs reliably in production. We've recently raised a $50 million Series A, led by Felicis. Learn more at chalk.ai.
About the role
We are hiring Software Engineers to join our team. This is an opportunity to join us in-person as an early employee and make a large impact at a high growth start-up. You will tackle challenging engineering problems with a high degree of autonomy and ownership.
We are looking for a software engineer with a strong background in systems engineering. At Chalk we are solving problems drawn from the fields of DBMS query planning & optimization, compilers, and distributed analytical data processing systems.
Chalk uses dynamic and static analysis of Python programs in order to optimize arbitrary user Python code, infers and orchestrates infrastructure implied by the structure of that code, and tracks metadata about flow of data through these systems.
We're in the office 5 days a week. When unavoidable conflicts come up, we’re flexible. This is not a hybrid role.
What you will do
Work directly with Chalk’s co-founders
Write C++, Python and Rust
Design, implement, ship, and maintain significant components of our query planning and execution engine
Iterate rapidly to improve Chalk’s platform in response to customer needs
What we’re looking for
4+ years experience of professional backend software engineering experience
Strong working knowledge of computer science fundamentals. We’re not looking for experience from drilling leet code – we need folks who are comfortable building and maintaining real systems
Comfort with leading development of new components of existing systems, and with taking ownership of existing software
Track record of learning new concepts quickly
Ability to work autonomously & to make pragmatic tradeoffs with an eye towards business outcomes
Strong communication skills
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent
Bonus points
Experience implementing data infrastructure
Experience with distributed systems/compilers/query planners
Experience with Rust
Experience with developing PaaS-like software
Software Engineering work from LinkedIn, X, Reddit and Upwork, in one list.
Each morning you get everything that fits, strongest first.
Software Engineering$170k+
Find me workBy the team behind techroles.