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At a glance
Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
Chalk is hiring a Software Engineer. Chalk is seeking Software Engineers to join their team in-person as early employees. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact at a high-growth startup, tackling challenging engineering problems with a high degree of autonomy and ownership. The platform combines Rust-speed performance with elegant tools for machine learning applications, addressing complexity, latency, and scale barriers.
Key focus areas include Work directly with Chalk’s co-founders, Write Python and Rust, and Design, implement, ship, and maintain significant components of the query planning and execution engine.
Successful candidates bring 4+ Years Professional Backend Software Engineering Experience and Bachelor's Degree In Computer Science Or Equivalent. Important skills include Python, Rust, Systems Engineering, DBMS Query Planning & Optimization, Compilers, and Distributed Analytical Data Processing Systems. Preferred (not required): Implementing Data Infrastructure, Query Planners, and Developing PaaS-Like Software.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
About Chalk
Chalk is building the data platform that powers the future of machine learning applications. We tear down complexity, latency, and scale barriers that have traditionally constrained ML capabilities. Our platform combines Rust-speed performance with elegant tools that developers love to use. Leading companies depend on Chalk for everything from stopping fraudulent credit card swipes, verifying identities, and maximizing clean energy capture. We've recently raised a $50 million Series A , led by Felicis.
About the role
We are hiring Software Engineers to join our team. This is an opportunity to join us in-person as an early employee and make a large impact at a high growth start-up. You will tackle challenging engineering problems with a high degree of autonomy and ownership.
We are looking for a software engineer with a strong background in systems engineering. At Chalk we are solving problems drawn from the fields of DBMS query planning & optimization, compilers, and distributed analytical data processing systems.
Chalk uses dynamic and static analysis of Python programs in order to optimize arbitrary user Python code, infers and orchestrates infrastructure implied by the structure of that code, and tracks metadata about flow of data through these systems.
We're in the office 5 days a week. When unavoidable conflicts come up, we’re flexible. This is not a hybrid role.
What you will do
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Work directly with Chalk’s co-founders
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Write Python and Rust
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Design, implement, ship, and maintain significant components of our query planning and execution engine
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Iterate rapidly to improve Chalk’s platform in response to customer needs
What we’re looking for
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4+ years experience of professional backend software engineering experience
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Strong working knowledge of computer science fundamentals. We’re not looking for experience from drilling leet code – we need folks who are comfortable building and maintaining real systems
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Comfort with leading development of new components of existing systems, and with taking ownership of existing software
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Track record of learning new concepts quickly
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Ability to work autonomously & to make pragmatic tradeoffs with an eye towards business outcomes
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Strong communication skills
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Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent
Bonus points
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Experience implementing data infrastructure
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Experience with distributed systems/compilers/query planners
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Experience with Rust
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Experience with developing PaaS-like software
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.