Staff Full Stack Engineer

About the job Staff Full Stack Engineer


Staff Full Stack Engineer
Location: San Francisco, California
Employment Type: Direct Hire - Full Time
Work Arrangement: 100% On-Site
Compensation: $180,000 - $220,000 base + equity
Work Authorization: U.S. work authorization required - No visa sponsorship available

HireNow Staffing is actively recruiting a seasoned, highly skilled Staff Full Stack Engineer to join one of our valued client partners. HireNow Staffing is acting as a direct placement partner for this senior-level full stack engineering role. Only candidates who fully meet the required qualifications and demonstrate a stable, progressive career history will be considered for interview.

Position Overview

This is a foundational engineering role within a fast-scaling software startup building advanced operational software in a complex, real-time environment. The selected engineer will operate at a staff level-owning architecture, shaping engineering direction, and delivering production-grade systems end to end.

This position requires deep technical capability across backend systems, frontend architecture, and distributed integrations. It also requires a high-agency professional who thrives in early-stage environments and can move from ambiguity to shipped product without heavy oversight.

Core Responsibilities

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to:

• Architect and implement scalable backend services using Node.js and TypeScript.
• Lead frontend development using React with a strong focus on performance and user workflow clarity.
• Design and evolve middleware and API layers that support real-time system interactions.
• Build, refine, and integrate AI-driven components into core product workflows.
• Integrate external operational systems and real-time data feeds into production platforms.
• Design containerized services and support CI/CD pipelines for reliable deployment.
• Participate in infrastructure planning, system scalability, and performance optimization.
• Take features from initial concept through production release with minimal direction.
• Collaborate closely with product leadership while maintaining strong technical standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical design reviews.

Interview consideration requires clear evidence of ownership over shipped systems at scale.

Required Qualifications (Non-Negotiable)

The following qualifications are mandatory:

• 5-10+ years of full stack engineering experience.
• Meaningful experience in early-stage startups (pre-Series C preferred).
• Demonstrated history of taking complex features or products from concept to production.
• Advanced proficiency in:
  
  • Node.js
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • React
• Experience integrating AI tools or LLMs into product development workflows.
• Familiarity with containerization and infrastructure tooling (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD).
• Bachelors or Master's degree in Computer Science (strong academic background required).
• Minimum 2+ years at each recent employer (stable tenure required).
• Strong system design and architecture capabilities.

Immediate Disqualifiers:

• No Computer Science degree.
• Purely enterprise maintenance background with no ownership.
• FAANG-only background without startup experience.
• Multiple short-term roles under 2 years without progression.
• Visa sponsorship requirement.

Preferred Qualifications (Strong Differentiators)

While not required, the following will significantly strengthen candidacy:

• Experience building custom AI pipelines or integrating LLM-based systems.
• Experience developing logistics, transportation, or operational workflow software.
• Prior work in SaaS environments with modern tech stacks (5-10 years old).
• iOS application exposure or mobile-first application experience.
• Experience scaling infrastructure in high-availability systems.
• Personal or professional interest in aviation or aerospace.

Preferred qualifications will be heavily weighted in final selection.

The Type of Candidate HireNow Staffing Is Recruiting

HireNow Staffing is seeking a high-agency, technically elite engineer who:

• Owns features end to end and is comfortable being accountable for outcomes.
• Has demonstrated long-term commitment at prior companies (no job hopping).
• Thinks in systems, not just tickets.
• Moves comfortably between backend architecture and frontend experience.
• Uses AI tools thoughtfully to enhance engineering velocity.
• Operates effectively in ambiguity without waiting for detailed specifications.
• Brings startup-level urgency with senior-level technical maturity.
• Works well in an on-site, collaborative engineering environment in San Francisco.

This role requires both technical depth and product-minded ownership.

Additional Hiring Conditions

• On-site presence in San Francisco required.
• Background check required.
• Stable, progressive employment history will be verified.
• Equity participation included in compensation package.

HireNow Staffing Disclaimer

HireNow Staffing is acting as a direct placement partner for this role. All candidate information is handled confidentially and evaluated against defined requirements. This job description outlines the general scope of responsibilities and qualifications. Duties may evolve based on client needs and business growth. Only candidates meeting the core qualifications will be considered for interview.