Company Name: Captions
Location: Union Square, New York City, United States (In-person at NYC HQ)
Job Type: Full-time
Salary Range: $200K – $300K yearly (Offers Equity)
Industry: AI / Video Creation / Software
Job Overview
Captions is a pioneering company at the forefront of AI and Video Creation Software, dedicated to transforming how video content is made for social media, marketing, sales, and more. We are seeking an exceptional Principal Software Engineer with 10+ years of experience to join our team in the heart of Union Square, New York City. This Full-time, Principal-Level role offers a pivotal opportunity to design, build, and operate highly scalable distributed systems that power our groundbreaking video creation tools.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be instrumental in architecting and driving platform-wide initiatives that push the boundaries of distributed systems. You will own critical backend services end-to-end, ensuring their performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency at massive scale. Leveraging your deep understanding of computer science fundamentals and hands-on experience with cloud infrastructures and container orchestration, you will navigate ambiguity and tackle open-ended technical challenges to deliver high-quality, fault-tolerant solutions to production. If you are a seasoned software engineer with a proven track record of building and operating complex systems, passionate about making a tangible impact on the future of AI-powered video creation, Captions invites you to contribute your expertise to our groundbreaking mission.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Apply 10+ years of industry experience in designing, building, and operating highly scalable distributed systems.
- Leverage deep understanding of computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, concurrency) to craft robust solutions.
- Demonstrate strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, C++, Java, Rust, etc.) for development.
- Possess hands-on experience with cloud infrastructures (GCP, AWS, Azure, or similar) to build and deploy scalable systems.
- Possess hands-on experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes) for managing distributed applications.
- Maintain a proven track record of delivering high-quality, scalable solutions to production, with an emphasis on performance and fault tolerance.
- Exhibit excellent problem-solving and communication skills for technical and cross-functional collaboration.
- Demonstrate the ability to mentor other engineers, fostering their growth and development.
- Navigate ambiguity effectively and tackle open-ended technical challenges with an innovative mindset.
- Lead efforts in architecting and driving platform-wide initiatives that push the boundaries of distributed systems.
- Solve complex technical challenges at massive scale, ensuring system resilience and efficiency.
- Own critical backend services end-to-end, overseeing their performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency.
- Collaborate closely with product teams to build operationally sound systems that enable rapid feature development across iOS, Android, and Web platforms.
- Continuously refine existing systems and proactively identify new technologies/methodologies to enhance infrastructure.
- Bring fresh ideas to the table, mentor team members, and balance short-term needs with a longer-term architectural vision.
Qualifications
- Experience Level: Principal-Level (explicitly stated “10+ years of experience” and responsibilities align with top-tier individual contributor or technical leadership without direct reports).
- Education Requirement: Relevant experience or a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field is typically required.
- Required Skills:
- 10+ years of industry experience designing, building, and operating highly scalable distributed systems.
- Deep understanding of computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, concurrency).
- Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, C++, Java, Rust, etc.).
- Hands-on experience with cloud infrastructures (GCP, AWS, Azure, or similar).
- Hands-on experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes).
- Proven track record of delivering high-quality, scalable solutions to production, with an emphasis on performance and fault tolerance.
- Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
- Ability to mentor other engineers.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity and tackle open-ended technical challenges.
- Proven ability to architect and drive platform-wide initiatives that push the boundaries of distributed systems.
- Skilled in solving complex technical challenges at massive scale.
- Experience owning critical backend services end-to-end (performance, reliability, cost-efficiency).
- Collaborative skills with product teams to build operationally sound systems that enable rapid feature development across iOS, Android, and Web platforms.
- Proficient in continuously refining existing systems and identifying new technologies/methodologies to enhance infrastructure.
- Ability to bring fresh ideas to the table, mentor, and balance short-term needs with a longer-term architectural vision.
Salary and Benefits
Captions offers an exceptional annual salary ranging from $200K – $300K yearly for this Full-time Principal Software Engineer position. The compensation package also offers Equity in the company. We believe in rewarding top talent and fostering a dynamic work environment. Beyond salary and equity, Captions is committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well-being and professional growth, which typically includes robust health, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, and opportunities for continuous professional development at the cutting-edge of AI technology.
Working Conditions
This is a Full-time position based in-person at NYC HQ in Union Square, New York City, United States. You will work within a highly collaborative and innovative office environment, engaging directly with product teams, other engineers, and ML specialists. The role demands exceptional technical expertise in distributed systems, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate ambiguity. You will be expected to architect and own critical backend services, contributing to a fast-paced, high-impact environment. Standard business hours are generally observed.
Why Work with Us
At Captions, you’re not just joining a company; you’re becoming part of a team that’s redefining the future of Video Creation Software through groundbreaking AI. We are a pioneering force, building sophisticated tools that empower users for social media, marketing, sales, and more. As a Principal Software Engineer, your role is pivotal in designing and operating the highly scalable distributed systems that fuel our innovation.
We offer a challenging yet incredibly rewarding environment where your expertise in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and core programming will be highly valued. You will be empowered to own critical services, architect new solutions, and directly contribute to state-of-the-art AI-powered applications. If you are a results-driven Principal Engineer with a clear passion for building at massive scale and eager to make a tangible impact on a rapidly evolving software landscape, Captions offers an unparalleled opportunity for your next career chapter.
