Software Engineer

About Handshake

Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.

Why Join Handshake Now

• Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
• Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
• Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others
• Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
  
  

About The Role

As a Software Engineer, you will play a critical role in building the core experiences that help students find opportunities, spanning search, discovery, jobs, and job search.

In This Role, You Will

• Design and implement scalable systems powering search and discovery experiences across our platform.
• Build agentic AI experiences for students, including our conversational AI agent for resume help, job search, and interview prep.
• Work with OpenAI real-time APIs and agentic frameworks to deliver intelligent, conversational features.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate new features that drive member value and engagement.
• Contribute to code reviews to maintain high code quality standards and mentor teammates to foster continuous learning.
  
  

Desired Capabilities

• 2+ years of experience in software engineering, ideally with consumer platforms or social apps.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript to deliver robust solutions.
• Strong product sense with a focus on building features that create real value for members.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) to optimize system performance.
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate within a diverse team environment.
  
  

Extra Credit

• Experience with AI, chatbots, or conversational interfaces.
  
  

Perks

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company

💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching

🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching

💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, wellness stipend

📚 Growth: Learning stipend, ongoing development

💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office

🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days

🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.

Compensation Range: $145K - $170K