Senior Software Engineer

Ascend is transforming the $10T global insurance industry by combining AI automation with embedded fintech. While insurance makes up 7.2% of global GDP, outdated financial infrastructure slows the industry down. Ascend is the first and market-leading finance automation platform built specifically for insurance, driving its rapid digital transformation.

In just three years:

• Trusted by thousands of insurance businesses nationwide
• Processed billions in transactions annually, growing 200%+ per year
• Built a world-class team of 50+ people in our San Francisco and Columbus offices

How we do it

Ascend automates the entire insurance financial lifecycle—from collections and accounting to reconciliations and disbursements—helping businesses streamline operations and increase profitability.

In the AI era, software costs are decreasing and AI makes technology more powerful and accessible. Businesses should maximize monetization by embedding technology into financial flows, rather than simply selling SaaS.

That’s why AI + fintech is our edge—seamlessly integrating financial automation into transactions to create real, lasting value. Customers don’t just buy software; they unlock powerful financial efficiencies with a 5-7x ROI.

Why we do it

Insurance is a $10T+ industry running on legacy systems. AI-powered automation embedded into payments and transactions will move the industry forward.

Ascend’s mission is to become the leading financial automation platform for insurance by 2030—powering the entire industry’s financial operations while transforming the way trillions of dollars move.

Your role

Ascend is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our team on-site in San Francisco to help expand our core product. You will be part of a small but growing team solving complex technical challenges using Ruby. You will interface directly with customers and work cross-functionally to continue developing new product features, dashboards, and checkout processes – without any layers.

Responsibilities

Objective #1: In your first 30 days:

• Understand Ascend’s platform, product, and customer workflows by collaborating with team members and engaging with customers.
• Contribute to user-facing projects using Ruby on Rails and Next.js.
• Partner with product managers and designers to solve customer challenges directly.

Objective #2: In your first 60 days:

• Take ownership of end-to-end features that process millions in insurance premiums using Ruby on Rails.
• Build intuitive UIs with Next.js to power financial operations.
• Develop internal tools to streamline customer workflows.
• Maintain high product quality through proactive monitoring and continuous improvements.

Objective #3: In your first 90 days, and beyond:

• Collaborate with customers to translate their needs into scalable solutions for the multi-trillion-dollar insurance industry.
• Develop the industry’s leading point-of-sale system for insurance, enabling seamless payments and improving conversion rates.
• Automate back-office tasks with AI, significantly reducing time and improving accuracy for accounting teams.
• Help shape technical architecture and processes as the platform scales.
• Mentor engineers through thoughtful code reviews and technical guidance.

Must Have

• 5+ years of experience as a Full Stack or Backend Web Developer
• 3+ years working in a growth-stage startup
• Experience with relational databases
• Experience building and scaling consumer products
• A strong desire to learn new skills and solve business problems

Nice to have

• Familiarity or interest in learning Ruby on Rails and Next.js
• Familiarity with building external APIs & integrations with platforms such as Salesforce
• Experience in building payment, checkout, or insurance products
• Ruby on Rails API hosted on Heroku
• Next.js w/TypeScript hosted on Vercel
• Tailwind CSS across all the FE
• Postgres + Redis for storage

Base Salary Range: $190,000 - $225,000

Competitive base salary and meaningful equity in a fast-growing company

100% health premiums covered for you and your dependents

401k with employer matching options

Unlimited PTO

Monthly company-paid commuter benefit options

Parental and family leave

Lunch provided when in office

Company outings and off-sites

Dog-friendly office!

Join Ascend and be part of our mission to revolutionize the insurance industry and contribute to global financial modernization. Your leadership can make a significant impact on improving the $1T+ insurance industry.

We are committed to equal opportunity employment and embrace diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.