As an early Software Engineer at Altara, you will architect the core foundations of a platform designed to solve the data challenges of the physical sciences. You’ll build systems that transform messy R&D data into actionable insights, developing both infrastructure and LLM-driven agentic workflows to help scientists accelerate discovery in critical global industries.
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Software Engineer at Altara
Altara is building the scientific intelligence platform for the physical world, and they're looking for a founding-level Software Engineer to join their SF team. Backed by Greylock, Neo, and leadership from OpenAI and AMD, this role offers $150k-$250k + meaningful equity. You’ll work alongside ex-SpaceX and Warp engineers to architect systems that accelerate breakthroughs in semiconductors and batteries. If you want to solve trillion-dollar R&D problems using LLM-based agentic systems and advanced infrastructure, this is your chance to shape a category-defining company from the ground up.
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Location
San Francisco, United States
Compensation
$150k-$250k + Equity
Company
Altara
Role overview
Altara is building the scientific intelligence platform that helps frontier industries accelerate R&D through manufacturing. The company designs AI agents that ingest and reason across complex technical data to speed up critical workflows like experimental design and failure analysis in industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and advanced materials. Altara empowers physical sciences companies to transform their fragmented data into actionable intelligence in minutes, instead of months, bringing AI to labs, pilot lines, and fabrication facilities.
What you will do
- Architect and build the early-stage foundations of Altara’s core product and infrastructure, balancing rapid shipping with long-term scalability.
- Develop sophisticated data ingestion systems capable of extracting structure from messy, multimodal scientific data like R&D databases and technical documents.
- Design and implement LLM-based agentic systems and advanced AI workflows to help scientists solve complex R&D problems in real-time.
Who this is a fit for
- Proven experience shipping 0-to-1 products in high-growth startups, applied AI labs, or top-tier engineering environments like SpaceX or Microsoft.
- Strong background in building production-grade AI/ML applications, specifically LLM-based workflows, search and ranking tools, or computer vision systems.
- Product-first mindset with a bias toward action, capable of navigating unstructured environments and making smart technical tradeoffs to deliver immediate user value.
Why this role is remarkable
- Join a world-class founding team from SpaceX, Warp, and Jane Street at the intersection of AI and physical science breakthroughs.
- Backed by elite investors including Greylock, Neo, Jeff Dean, and leadership from OpenAI and AMD, ensuring high-caliber support and growth.
- Work in a high-density, in-person environment in San Francisco where you will directly influence the engineering culture of a category-defining company.
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Jack gets to know what you're great at and what you want next, then searches 15 million jobs daily and helps you discover roles at companies like this.
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What happens next?
Jack’s an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack’s network.
If your profile’s a match and Altara wants to meet, Jill will make the intro. In the meantime, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.