Lead Backend Software Engineer

Location

San Carlos - Hybrid

Full time

Hybrid

Engineering, Cloud & Security, Backend

We’re a fast-moving team of aviators, engineers, and operators on a mission to transform aviation with an AI platform that makes flying safer, more efficient, and more capable. Backed by top investors and having already secured a dozen Department of Defense contracts and worked with three major airlines, we’re flying through barriers and working on a mission that matters.

At Beacon AI, there are no silos or layers of overhead. Small, focused teams own what they build, ship fast, and learn even faster. Every line of code, data pipeline, or system we design pushes the boundaries of how humans and AI work together in the cockpit and beyond. If you thrive at the intersection of hard-tech ambition and mission urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else.

Beacon AI's traction is growing fast! We have completed 9 DOD contracts and currently have three active contracts with very significant milestones on deck for next year and are expanding our team with additional exceptional technical leaders.

We are seeking a Lead Backend Software Engineer lead the development and optimization of our backend services and systems. This role requires technical leadership, ownership of complex initiatives, and the ability to deliver high-impact products end-to-end. The position focuses on designing, developing, and enhancing our serverless cloud infrastructure, APIs, and data pipelines, with an emphasis on reliability, scalability, and security. The ideal candidate embodies a startup mentality, thrives in ambiguous environments, and demonstrates a strong commitment to quality and ownership

At Beacon, you’ll lead by example, mentoring and growing a small team of talented engineers (typically initially 1–2 people) while staying hands‑on in design and execution. You’ll help shape critical systems that advance aviation safety and autonomy, working alongside a team that values effort, creativity, and accountability.

If you’re the kind of engineer who loves solving hard problems, enjoys building things that truly matter, and finds a way to win no matter the challenge, we’d love to meet you.

• Technical Leadership: Set a high technical bar, mentoring other engineers, and contributing to team growth through hiring and project leadership.
• Backend Development: Architect, design, and optimize backend services and systems to ensure reliability and scalability for mission‑critical applications.
• API Development and Management: Design, implement, and maintain secure, scalable APIs for internal and external data integrations, including real‑time data streaming and support for web/iPad applications.
• Database Management: Develop and maintain database schemas, queries, and processes, ensuring data integrity and optimal performance.
• Data Pipeline Construction: Build and optimize pipelines for efficient data ingestion, processing, and accessibility, ensuring high reliability and security.
• Performance Optimization: Analyze and improve system performance, ensuring responsiveness for applications dealing with time‑series data and multimedia streams.
• Advanced Troubleshooting: Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex systems, ensuring high availability and reliability of cloud applications.
• End‑to‑End Ownership: Take ownership of specific product lines, milestones, or feature sets, driving initiatives forward from concept to delivery.
• Collaborative Innovation: Work closely with product management and cross‑functional teams to deliver impactful solutions aligned with business goals.

• Extensive Backend Expertise: 5-9 years of experience as a Backend Developer, with a proven ability to design, implement, and optimize robust, distributed systems.
• Technical Excellence: Proven expertise in architecting secure, scalable, and reliable backend services using AWS and serverless technologies.
• Ownership Mentality: Strong ability to own initiatives, drive them from 0 to 1, and deliver end‑to‑end solutions with minimal supervision.
• Startup Mentality: Thrives in dynamic,…