Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer – Scion Staffing

Scion Technology has been engaged to conduct a search for an experienced Principal Full‑Stack Software Engineer for our client, a cutting‑edge AI/data startup in San Francisco, CA. This is a full‑time, direct hire position based onsite in San Francisco.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join an innovative startup at a pivotal growth phase as they establish their new San Francisco office. This role is ideal for a deeply technical individual contributor who thrives in high‑ownership, fast‑moving environments and wants to make a significant impact on the future of AI‑powered applications. If you’re an entrepreneurial builder who values autonomy, loves solving complex technical challenges, and wants to work with cutting‑edge data and AI tooling, this is your opportunity.

• Competitive annual salary of $230k-250k base (depending on experience) + equity and performance bonus
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• High‑autonomy, high‑impact environment where you’ll shape critical architecture decisions and build flagship applications that define how modern AI systems are built
• Clear path to principal engineer‑level IC growth, with opportunities to become a technical leader and subject matter expert

• Design, develop, and deploy production‑grade full‑stack applications from backend to frontend, leveraging Python, React, and Type Script
• Build and maintain cloud‑native, Kubernetes‑based infrastructure and services that scale with the business
• Work with modern data and AI tools including Neo4J, Spark, ollama, and other emerging technologies to create intelligent, data‑driven applications
• Own end‑to‑end architecture and implementation decisions, taking projects from concept through production with minimal oversight

• 10+ years of software engineering experience building production systems across the full stack
• Strong proficiency in backend development (Python) and frontend development (React, Type Script)
• Hands‑on experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and Kubernetes‑native application development – a MUST
• Experience working with modern data and AI technologies such as Neo4J, Spark, ollama, vector databases, or similar tools
• Proven ability to design and build end‑to‑end applications with high autonomy and minimal guidance
• Startup or scale‑up experience with a track record of internal growth and increasing responsibility within previous organizations

Scion Staffing, Inc. is an equal‑opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and to making employment decisions based on merit and value for our clients and candidates.