About the job
Join Handshake as a Software Engineer II!
At Handshake, we are creating the career network tailored for the AI economy. Trusted by 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, and 1 million employers including 100% of the Fortune 50, we facilitate career discovery and hiring, from freelance AI projects to internships and full-time roles. Our innovative approach has led to extraordinary growth, with projections to triple our Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) by 2025.
Why Handshake?
Influence the evolution of careers in the AI economy on a global scale.
Collaborate with elite AI labs, Fortune 500 companies, and renowned educational institutions.
Join a leadership team with experience from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir.
Contribute to a rapidly expanding company generating billions in revenue.
Role Overview
As a Software Engineer II, you will take ownership of significant components of our core product, creating systems that enable millions to explore opportunities, connect with employers, and advance their careers. This role is ideal for those ready to elevate their skills beyond the fundamentals: driving features from concept to completion, engaging in technical design, and setting high standards for engineering excellence.
You will collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and senior engineers to deliver full-stack experiences that are reliable, scalable, and user-centric. This is a position for those who seek real ownership and impactful contributions.
Location: San Francisco, CA | In-office, 5 days a week
Lead feature development across frontend and backend, from design to deployment.
Develop scalable full-stack systems that enhance user experiences in search, discovery, matching, and onboarding.
Implement backend APIs and workflows while maintaining high standards for reliability and performance.
Engage in architectural discussions to establish best practices for the team.
Write clean, maintainable code and actively participate in peer code reviews.
Work collaboratively with product and design teams to transform ambiguous requirements into exceptional user experiences.
Proactively identify and resolve technical debt and performance issues.

