Staff Software Engineer, Applied AI

Architect and build enterprise-grade AI and conversational systems that power coaching workflows and user experiences.

Develop, evaluate, and refine LLM-based components - balancing performance, scalability, and reliability in real use cases.

Integrate and manage diverse sources of structured and unstructured data to improve contextual understanding and output quality.

Partner closely with product, engineering, and design to translate user needs into impactful technical solutions.

Rapidly prototype and iterate on systems that span backend services, data pipelines, and frontend interactions as needed.

Build tooling, tests, and automation to support reliable model deployment , observability, and continuous improvement.

Help streamline data and science workflows, enabling fast experimentation and data-driven decisions.

We recognize that not every candidate will have experience in every area above - we value growth potential, curiosity, and the ability to learn on the job.

Technical foundation: 8+ years of experience in software engineering, AI/ML, data-intensive systems, AI/ML development (ideally including a Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, ML, Data Science, or a related field).

AI systems mindset: Familiarity with language systems (e.g., NLP, conversational interfaces, IR) and comfort reasoning about model behavior, context, and evaluation - both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Data tooling & analysis: Experience with core data science tools such as NumPy, scikit-learn, Pandas, PySpark , plus SQL and common visualization tools (e.g., matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, or BI tools) to explore and communicate insights.

Cloud & deployment experience: Comfortable developing and deploying services in cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) and working with containerization/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).

Engineering excellence: Strong software engineering skills, including writing maintainable code, debugging distributed systems, and collaborating in cross-functional teams.

Growth orientation: Eagerness to tackle unfamiliar problems, learn new technologies, and contribute to shaping our platform and culture.

Communication: Ability to explain technical ideas clearly and work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice-to-have (but not required): experience with ML lifecycle tools (e.g., MLflow, Weights & Biases), familiarity with Cloud ML services, or past work building generative AI applications.

Ownership & Rapid Growth

Outsized missions from day one, with direct responsibility for company-defining projects

Work alongside the executive team with transparency into strategy and decision-making

Influence on direction through real-time customer feedback and market insights

AI-First Operator

Work directly with cutting-edge AI models and next-generation platforms

Build expertise in enterprise AI implementation across Fortune 500 companies and multiple industries

Establish yourself as a recognized leader among peers in shaping how AI transforms work at a global scale

Compensation

Competitive salary including base + bonuses

Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision) from day one

Generous PTO, company-wide R&R shutdowns, and paid parental leave

Retirement plan support for US and global employees

Equity

Meaningful ownership in a venture-backed company at a growth inflection point

Financial upside that comes from scaling fast

Top-up grants as we scale and you deliver exceptional performance — your compensation grows alongside your impact

Top-Performing Culture

A culture built for top talent: intensity to win, growth without limits, and a team that solves hard problems and celebrates big wins together

here

We are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and offer accommodations upon request throughout the hiring process. If you have any questions, please reach out to Allison Langille, Head of People, at jobs@valence.co.

We use third-party services to verify employment history, education, and other information relevant to your candidacy. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of these verification checks. This is a full-time role that requires a high level of focus, availability, and commitment. Employees may not hold concurrent full-time employment with another organization while employed at Valence. Any outside consulting, advisory, freelance, or other professional work must be disclosed and approved in advance and must not interfere with job responsibilities, availability, performance, or create a conflict of interest - including risks related to confidentiality, intellectual property, or competition.

Valence is committed to protecting the privacy of all applicants. Information you submit will be used for recruiting, evaluation, legal compliance, and recordkeeping purposes only. We do not require access to personal account credentials at any stage of the hiring process. For more information, see our Candidate Privacy Notice .

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