Frontend Engineer — Distributed Systems OS

About the Role We're building a personal cluster operating system — a distributed OS that sits atop Kubernetes and makes production-grade infrastructure accessible to every developer, not just those with a dedicated platform team. This isn't a typical dashboard project. Think of it like the invention of the mouse or the window's close button: we need frontend innovation that fundamentally reimagines how people interact with complex distributed systems. As an early frontend engineer, you'll own the interface through which developers and small teams manage production Kubernetes clusters. You'll define architecture, prototype new interaction paradigms, and ship experiences that translate deep infrastructure complexity into something intuitive and delightful. What You'll Do Build responsive, high-performance interfaces that work seamlessly for individual developers and small teams managing production clusters. Prototype new interaction patterns for infrastructure management — test assumptions quickly and iterate based on real user feedback. Define and establish frontend architecture patterns and practices as a foundational member of the engineering team. Work closely with backend services and APIs to surface real-time cluster state, observability data, and infrastructure controls. Contribute to backend codebases when needed to unblock frontend work or improve data contracts. Collaborate cross-functionally with product, infrastructure engineers, and customers to deliver polished, production-ready features. What We're Looking For Must-haves: Proven experience defining and establishing frontend architecture in a production environment. 2+ years of software development experience. Hands-on experience with Kubernetes. Strong background working with APIs and backend services. Background in systems programming or distributed systems. Nice-to-haves: Track record shipping user-facing infrastructure tools or developer tooling. Experience with complex state management in UIs that reflect real-world distributed infrastructure. Familiarity with observability and visualization platforms (e.g. Grafana or similar). Experience designing and implementing UI animations. Comfort contributing to at least one backend language. Experience with GitOps workflows or infrastructure-as-code tooling. Frontend testing experience across unit, integration, and end-to-end strategies, including test automation. Familiarity with WebSockets, real-time data streaming, or data visualization libraries. You'll thrive here if you: Can translate deep technical complexity into clear, accessible user interfaces. Communicate well across technical and non-technical stakeholders. Are self-directed, prioritize effectively, and know when to escalate. Enjoy collaborating closely in a small, high-ownership team environment. Compensation & Benefits Salary: $150,000 – $200,000 USD annually Visa sponsorship is available for qualified candidates. Location This is a full-time, on-site role based in San Francisco, CA. Remote work is not available for this position.