Software Engineer
Fluidstack · San Francisco, CA
- On site
- Full-time
- $250,000 / year
- San Francisco, CA
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Subject: Interested in the Software Engineer role at Fluidstack
Hi Jamie — I came across the Software Engineer opening and wanted to reach out directly. I've spent the last few years doing exactly this kind of work, and Fluidstack stood out because…
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Job highlights
- Build AI infrastructure at scale.
- Develop core system primitives end-to-end.
- Own and model complex domain data.
- Integrate with external vendor systems.
- Utilize AI tooling for development.
About the role
About Fluidstack
We exist to make humanity more free. For most of human history, you farmed or you starved. Technology gave people more time for the things they wanted to do, instead of things they had to do. Powerful AI will be the biggest lever for human choice we've ever built - but only if models are aligned with what humanity actually wants. There are groups building AI who don't share these goals. Whoever deploys frontier compute infrastructure fastest will decide whether AI expands human freedom or shrinks it.
We're singularly focused on delivering 10 to 100s of GWs of compute faster than anyone else, rethinking every layer of the stack. We acquire power, design and build data centers, and operate them - with teams spanning hardware and software. Speed and scale are our key differentiators. Come be a part of building civilization-scale infrastructure for AI.
We hire people who care deeply about this problem space. If that is you, please apply!
How We Operate
- High ownership. Full autonomy. Own things end to end often taking on scope outside your core role without being asked to get things done.
- Velocity. We drive everything forward as fast as possible.
- First principles. Challenge every assumption. Zero analogy thinking, no egos, the best idea wins.
- Love of the game. The frontier of AI is the most interesting problem of our time. We put in long hours at high intensity to push the frontier forward.
The Software Engineering Team
Examples of key exciting problems the team is working on:
- We're building the pipeline that processes thousand-page vendor unstructure vendor material against our own DC design to automate the generation of an end to end site design and schedule.
- We're building the live model of a AI infrastructure project’s entire delivery schedule, durable workflows handing off across every team, to replace static Gantt charts with a plan that updates itself as reality changes.
- We're building the agent platform that wraps AI in real authorization, audit, and guardrails, to let agents accelerate the development of infrastructure instead of just advising report on it.
Role Scope
- Build core primitives end to end. Entity ownership, audit, authorization, orchestration. You make the right thing the default and the wrong thing hard.
- Own the domain model. Turn Fluidstack's world of power, datacenters, and chips into composable entities that still hold up years from now.
- Define interactions with the outside. Interface with vendor systems and ingest the formats our domain actually speaks: KMZ, BIM, Revit, vendor docs.
- Make AI agents first-class operators of our systems. Give them the tools, guardrails, and audit trails to act safely, not just advise.
What We're Looking For
The following is a starting point. We always make space for exceptional people, so if you don't fit this role exactly, tell us where you would.
- You move toward ambiguity, not away from it. You walk into the fog, build the map, and explain it to everyone else.
- You learn at a steep slope. You reach real competence in an unfamiliar domain fast, whether it's a workflow engine, an authz model, or a geospatial format. We value this over existing expertise.
- You have taste in abstraction. You see the one primitive hiding under five janky one-offs, and you know when not to abstract.
- You model domains with rigor earned the hard way. You've gotten it wrong, felt the pain, and never forgot it.
- You pull structure out of mess. You've done real work turning messy, unstructured data into something usable, in ML, data engineering, or research.
- You're fluent with AI tooling. LLM APIs, MCP servers, and agentic frameworks, and you drive Claude Code, Cursor, or similar every day.
- You've shipped production code that other people depend on, and you're comfortable in any language using AI coding tools.
- Bonus: MLE work, especially extraction and synthesis from unstructured data. Workflow and orchestration engines (Temporal, Cadence, Airflow). Geospatial (KMZ/GIS) or BIM (Revit, IFC). Authorization and policy engines (OPA, Zanzibar-style, RBAC/ABAC). Audit or event-sourcing systems. Go, TypeScript, and Postgres.
Salary & Benefits
- Competitive total compensation package (salary + equity).
- Retirement or pension plan, in line with local norms.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Generous PTO policy, in line with local norms.
The base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $250,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and location. This range represents our good faith estimate of the compensation for this role at the time of posting. Total compensation may also include equity in the form of stock options.
We are committed to pay equity and transparency.
Fluidstack is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Fluidstack will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.
You will receive a confirmation email once your application has successfully been accepted. If there is an error with your submission and you did not receive a confirmation email, please email careers@fluidstack.io with your resume/CV, the role you've applied for, and the date you submitted your application-- someone from our recruiting team will be in touch.
Key skills/competency
- Software Engineering
- AI Infrastructure
- Data Center Design
- System Design
- Cloud Computing
- Distributed Systems
- API Development
- Domain Modeling
- Production Code
- AI Tooling
Skills & topics
- Software Engineer
- AI
- Infrastructure
- Compute
- Data Center
- System Design
- Cloud
- Developer
- Engineering
- AI Infrastructure Engineer
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in AI, infrastructure, and system design, aligning with Fluidstack's focus on speed and scale.
- Showcase ownership: Emphasize your ability to handle tasks end-to-end and take initiative beyond core responsibilities.
- Demonstrate learning agility: Provide examples of quickly mastering new domains or unfamiliar technologies.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss domain modeling, abstraction, and handling unstructured data.
- Express passion: Clearly articulate your interest in Fluidstack's mission to expand human freedom through AI.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is Fluidstack's mission and how does a Software Engineer contribute?
- Fluidstack's mission is to make humanity more free by deploying AI compute infrastructure at an unprecedented scale. As a Software Engineer, you'll build the core systems, domain models, and AI agent platforms that enable this mission, contributing directly to the speed and effectiveness of AI development.
- What kind of technical challenges can I expect as a Software Engineer at Fluidstack?
- You can expect to tackle challenges in building end-to-end primitives for entity ownership, audit, and authorization. This includes defining robust domain models for power, data centers, and chips, interfacing with diverse vendor systems (KMZ, BIM, Revit), and developing AI agents as first-class operators with guardrails and audit trails.
- Does Fluidstack value learning over existing expertise for Software Engineers?
- Yes, Fluidstack explicitly values steep learning slopes and the ability to gain competence in unfamiliar domains quickly over existing expertise. They encourage candidates to apply even if they don't fit the role exactly, provided they demonstrate a strong capacity to learn.
- How does Fluidstack's 'high ownership' culture apply to Software Engineers?
- The 'high ownership' culture means Software Engineers are expected to take full autonomy and own tasks end-to-end. This often involves taking on scope outside your core role without being asked, demonstrating a proactive approach to getting things done.
- What are the key technologies and tools mentioned for Software Engineers?
- While fluency in any language is accepted with AI coding tools, the role mentions a strong preference for AI tooling like LLM APIs and agentic frameworks. Bonus areas include MLE work, workflow engines (Temporal, Cadence, Airflow), geospatial/BIM formats, authorization engines, audit systems, and specific languages like Go, TypeScript, and Postgres.
- How is compensation structured for a Software Engineer at Fluidstack?
- Compensation includes a competitive total package with salary and equity (stock options). The base salary range is $150,000 - $250,000 per year, determined by experience, skills, qualifications, and location. Benefits include retirement plans, health insurance, and generous PTO.
- What is Fluidstack's approach to problem-solving, especially for Software Engineers?
- Fluidstack operates on first principles, challenging every assumption with 'zero analogy thinking.' They prioritize the best idea winning, fostering an environment where innovation and rigorous problem-solving are paramount for building civilization-scale AI infrastructure.
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