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Staff Engineer, Platform & Systems

Retell AISan Francisco Bay AreaEngineering
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Salary
$225K - $350K USD
Job type
Full-time
Posted
8 Feb 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Role Overview

Retell AI is seeking an experienced engineer to shape the technical direction of the core platform and systems infrastructure in the San Francisco Bay Area. This full-time individual contributor position suits a seasoned professional who enjoys ambiguity, moves quickly, and wants to elevate the technical capabilities of a fast-growing voice AI company.

Key Responsibilities

Design, evolve, and own the core platform and systems architecture from initial concept through production deployment.
Drive complex technical initiatives independently, balancing system speed, operational reliability, and massive scale.
Conduct design reviews, mentor team members, and provide hands-on technical leadership to raise overall engineering standards.
Collaborate closely with product teams to translate broader business requirements into durable technical strategies.
Diagnose and eliminate performance, scalability, and reliability bottlenecks across the infrastructure.
Establish and refine engineering best practices as the platform and engineering organization continue to grow.

Requirements

Bring nine or more years of hands-on experience building and operating robust production systems.
Possess a proven track record operating at a Staff or Principal level scope.
Demonstrate exceptional strength in systems design with a clear ability to evaluate architectural tradeoffs.
Maintain a fast execution pace while prioritizing correctness, code maintainability, and system reliability.
Excel at owning open-ended, ambiguous problems and independently charting the execution path forward.
Show direct experience building or scaling production platforms utilized by real customers at significant volume.
Remain deeply hands-on through writing code, reviewing technical blueprints, and unblocking engineering teams.

Nice to Have

Prior professional background working with distributed systems, voice artificial intelligence, or real-time systems.
Experience developing APIs at scale, managing heavy infrastructure or platform work, and building developer-facing products.
Familiarity with programming languages and runtimes such as Python, React, Node.js, and Java.

Skills and Tools

Systems design and architecture
Production systems operations
Performance and scalability optimization
Distributed and real-time systems
Python, React, Node.js, and Java

Salary and Benefits

Annual cash compensation ranging from $225,000 to $350,000 USD.
Meaningful equity grants with flexible cash-equity balance options upfront.
Full 100% insurance coverage for medical, dental, and vision plans.
Daily $70 DoorDash credit covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Monthly stipends including $200 for wellness, $300 for commuting, $75 for phone bills, and $50 for internet.
100% relocation provided to the Redwood City area, along with full visa sponsorship support for qualified applicants including H-1B, TN, L-1, E-3, F-1 OPT/CPT, and O-1 visas.

About the Company

Retell AI applies first-principles thinking to reinvent traditional call centers utilizing cutting-edge voice artificial intelligence. Thousands of organizations leverage AI voice agents to manage sales, customer support, and logistics operations. Backed by prominent investors such as Y Combinator and Alt Capital, the company has scaled rapidly to significant annual recurring revenue. Recognized widely as a top workplace and leading software provider, Retell AI fosters a collaborative, high-ownership environment where small teams deliver massive impact.

How to Apply

Candidates can apply directly on the official company careers page.

Skills and tech stack

PythonReactNode.jsJava

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for the Staff Engineer position?

The annual cash compensation ranges from $225,000 to $350,000 USD, accompanied by meaningful equity options.

Is remote work permitted for this role?

No, this is an onsite role located in the San Francisco Bay Area (Redwood City, CA) with 100% relocation provided.

Does Retell AI sponsor work visas for this job?

Yes, work authorization sponsorship is available for qualified candidates, covering H-1B, TN, L-1, E-3, F-1 OPT/CPT, and O-1 visas.

What level of experience is required?

Applicants must have 9+ years of experience building and operating production systems, typically operating at a Staff or Principal level scope.

What benefits are included besides base salary?

Benefits include 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, a $70 daily DoorDash food credit, and monthly reimbursements for wellness, commuting, phone, and internet bills.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Retell AI careers page.

Apply on company site