Edison Scientific is a San-Francisco-based startup building AI “scientists” that automate research tasks from literature review to molecular design.
ABOUT US Edison Scientific builds and deploys AI scientist agents to accelerate science and the development of new medicines. We are an ambitious team run by scientists and engineers from leading institutions across biology, physics, chemistry, and AI. THE ROLE As a Principal MTS (Full-stack, Backend-Focused, Python) you’ll play a key role in shaping and scaling our core platform that automates scientific discovery. You’ll work across the stack, with a strong emphasis on backend systems- designing and evolving services, APIs, data pipelines, and infrastructure- while also contributing to critical user-facing workflows. Our mission is to build an AI scientist, and you’ll help define and build the tools, interfaces, and data systems it relies on. This role goes beyond implementation: you’ll influence architectural direction, establish engineering best practices, and partner closely with frontend engineers, designers, and researchers to deliver robust, end-to-end solutions. At Edison Scientific, full-stack engineering at the senior level is about technical ownership and leverage- understanding how complex systems interact, making sound architectural tradeoffs, and building foundations that allow teams and science to move faster. This role is on-site at our San Francisco office in the Dogpatch neighborhood. Our office is a converted warehouse with high ceilings, open space, and a team that genuinely believes in what they're building. This position is part of the Platform team. RESPONSIBILITIES - Architect, design, implement, and maintain backend services, APIs, and databases that power the scientific discovery platform. - Drive technical decisions across the stack, balancing scalability, reliability, security, and developer velocity. - Lead the design and evolution of data pipelines supporting AI agents and research workflows. - Contribute to and review frontend features and workflows, ensuring seamless integration with backend systems. - Establish and uphold best practices around testing, monitoring, observability, and incident response. - Troubleshoot complex, cross-system issues and guide others through effective debugging and remediation. - Collaborate closely with engineering, design, and research teams to scope, plan, and ship new AI-driven capabilities. - Mentor and support other engineers, raising the technical bar and fostering a strong engineering culture. - Act as a trusted technical partner in a highly collaborative team working at the frontier of AI for science. QUALIFICATIONS - Typically, 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with significant experience across backend systems and full-stack development. - Deep proficiency in one or more backend languages (e.g., Python, Node.js), with a strong track record of designing production systems. - Extensive experience designing, building, and evolving APIs (FastAPI, REST; GraphQL a plus). - Strong working knowledge of modern frontend frameworks (e.g., React, Next.js) and how frontend and backend systems interact at scale. - Expertise with relational and/or document databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or similar), including schema design and performance considerations. - Hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and containerized environments (Docker; Kubernetes preferred). - Proven experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines, automated testing strategies, and observability systems. - Ability to operate autonomously, make sound technical judgments, and drive projects from concept through production. - Strong communication skills and experience collaborating across disciplines in fast-moving environments. BONUS POINTS FOR - Experience with data-intensive platforms, scientific computing, or ML/AI infrastructure. - Prior experience in startups or small teams with significant architectural ownership and ambiguity. - Experience scaling systems, teams, or platforms through periods of rapid growth. Salary $200,000- $350,000 • Offers equity WHY JOIN US? We're a fast-moving, mission-driven culture where smart people do their best work and actually enjoy doing it. We also offer full-time employees the following: - Competitive salary and equity - Full healthcare coverage; we pay 100% of premiums for you and your dependents - Support for growing families, including a yearly new parent stipend and fertility coverage through Carrot - Mental health support through Rula, our in-network therapist and psychiatrist network with fast availability - 12 weeks of paid parental leave for maternity, paternity, and adoption - Pet care support with a yearly employer-funded stipend for your animal companions - Commuter benefits so you can pay for transit and parking with pre-tax dollars - 401(k) company matching - $300 health and wellness benefit quarterly - Lunch is on us every day you're in the office, and dinner is on us when you're working late - Regular team off-sites and company events Edison Scientific is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.