Tech Lead Manager, Senior Staff Software Engineer (Backend)

At Niantic Spatial, we're building the future of geospatial AI. Powered by a proprietary database of over 30 billion posed images and a groundbreaking third-generation digital map, our mission is to develop spatial intelligence that helps both humans and machines better understand, navigate, and engage with the physical world. Our high-fidelity mapping technology unlocks a new dimension of interaction-laying the foundation for AI to truly comprehend and operate within real-world environments. Join us as we build a living model of the world that people and machines can talk to.

As a Senior Staff Software Engineer , you'll serve as a Tech Lead Manager and the primary architect for our data pipelines and services. In this role, you'll remain hands-on and operate as a cross-domain expert, ensuring our infrastructure scales for long-term success. You'll collaborate directly with executive leadership to establish strategic plans and drive the technical principles and execution that make Niantic a market leader in geospatial AI.

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Design: Lead the design and execution of mission-critical server systems, ensuring they meet the company's strategic objectives.
• Operational Excellence: Make final decisions on system implementation and establish organizational policies to ensure long-term operational effectiveness.
• Technical Principles: Lead the development of company-wide engineering principles and objectives to solve complex problems in creative ways.
• Cross-Functional Impact: Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional teams to deliver results that impact the company's trajectory.
• Organizational Growth: Provide deep mentorship and training to senior engineers across the function, reducing single points of failure and raising the overall technical bar.
• Standard Setting: Drive the continuous improvement of development processes and code standards company-wide.

Requirements

• Years of Experience: 12+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a proven track record of leading broad functional areas or company-wide initiatives.
• Education: BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• Technical Mastery: Recognized expertise in building reliable, high-throughput, low-latency, and scalable server and networking systems at a global scale.
• Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated ability to turn high-level executive goals into actionable functional strategies.
• Mentorship & Technical Leadership: Experience providing hands-on mentorship and training that raises the performance of an entire function, not just an immediate team.
• People Management: Proven experience in formal people management, with a track record of building and developing high-performing engineering teams.
• In-Office Requirement: Required in-office 4 days per week in our San Francisco and/or Sunnyvale office.

Plus If:

• Domain Expertise: Deep technical knowledge in XR (Extended Reality), Geospatial AI, 3D Reconstruction, or Computer Vision.
• Agile Leadership: Experience leading high-stakes technical projects and navigating the ambiguity of a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment.

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Niantic Spatial is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Niantic Spatial are considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under applicable laws. Niantic Spatial, will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact your recruiter if you want to request an accommodation for the job application or interview process.