Principal Software Engineer, Backend Systems
Principal Software Engineer, Backend Systems
Principal Software Engineer, Backend Systems
ABOUT ASTRUS
ABOUT ASTRUS
ABOUT ASTRUS
📍 Location: Toronto or Waterloo, Canada
At Astrus, we are using AI to automate microchip design, starting with the biggest bottleneck, analog layout. Our mission is to radically improve global computation and empower chip designers to create the world's most advanced microchips with AI. Astrus is backed by top-tier VC firms: Khosla Ventures, HOF Capital, and 1517 Fund.
📍 Location: Toronto or Waterloo, Canada
At Astrus, we are using AI to automate microchip design, starting with the biggest bottleneck, analog layout. Our mission is to radically improve global computation and empower chip designers to create the world's most advanced microchips with AI. Astrus is backed by top-tier VC firms: Khosla Ventures, HOF Capital, and 1517 Fund.
THE MISSION
THE MISSION
THE MISSION
Astrus is building software for engineers solving some of the most complex design problems in the world. Your role is to build and scale the backend systems that make that possible — ensuring the product remains fast, reliable, and adaptable as both the product and our customers grow in complexity.
This is not a role where requirements are fully defined upfront. You will take ownership of ambiguous, high-impact problems and turn them into clean, well-executed systems in production, working closely with architects, product engineers, and the broader team.
You do not need prior experience in chip design or AI. What matters is strong backend engineering fundamentals, sound judgment, and the ability to build and evolve systems in complex environments. You’ll learn the domain as you go — your ability to reason about systems is far more important than prior industry experience.
We care far more about how you think and build than whether you’ve used our exact tools or worked in our domain before.
If you’re motivated by ownership, system design, and building backend systems that directly power sophisticated user workflows, this role is for you.
Astrus is building software for engineers solving some of the most complex design problems in the world. Your role is to build and scale the backend systems that make that possible — ensuring the product remains fast, reliable, and adaptable as both the product and our customers grow in complexity.
This is not a role where requirements are fully defined upfront. You will take ownership of ambiguous, high-impact problems and turn them into clean, well-executed systems in production, working closely with architects, product engineers, and the broader team.
You do not need prior experience in chip design or AI. What matters is strong backend engineering fundamentals, sound judgment, and the ability to build and evolve systems in complex environments. You’ll learn the domain as you go — your ability to reason about systems is far more important than prior industry experience.
We care far more about how you think and build than whether you’ve used our exact tools or worked in our domain before.
If you’re motivated by ownership, system design, and building backend systems that directly power sophisticated user workflows, this role is for you.
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
High-impact backend systems. Lead and deliver projects that directly improve product capabilities and platform foundations.
Turning ambiguity into systems. Work with architects and teammates to translate evolving product and technical needs into robust production systems.
Architecture and design decisions. Contribute to how we design systems — including data models, APIs, performance strategies, and overall platform evolution.
Systems that support complex workflows. Build backend capabilities for data-rich, performance-sensitive use cases such as real-time systems, identity and authorization, and large-scale data handling.
Adaptability in a fast-moving environment. Step into the highest-leverage problems as priorities evolve, rather than operating within a narrow ownership boundary.
Raising the bar. Improve how we build through strong execution, clear thinking, pragmatic tradeoffs, and effective communication.
High-impact backend systems. Lead and deliver projects that directly improve product capabilities and platform foundations.
Turning ambiguity into systems. Work with architects and teammates to translate evolving product and technical needs into robust production systems.
Architecture and design decisions. Contribute to how we design systems — including data models, APIs, performance strategies, and overall platform evolution.
Systems that support complex workflows. Build backend capabilities for data-rich, performance-sensitive use cases such as real-time systems, identity and authorization, and large-scale data handling.
Adaptability in a fast-moving environment. Step into the highest-leverage problems as priorities evolve, rather than operating within a narrow ownership boundary.
Raising the bar. Improve how we build through strong execution, clear thinking, pragmatic tradeoffs, and effective communication.
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT
You’ll work on non-trivial backend problems. This isn’t standard CRUD — you’ll support complex, data-heavy workflows where backend performance and design directly impact user experience.
You’ll have real ownership. You won’t just implement tasks — you’ll help define what should be built and how.
You’ll operate in a high-context environment. You’ll work closely with architects and product engineers on problems that cut across system boundaries.
You won’t be gated by domain knowledge. You can come in as a strong backend engineer and ramp quickly without prior chip design or AI experience.
You’ll work on non-trivial backend problems. This isn’t standard CRUD — you’ll support complex, data-heavy workflows where backend performance and design directly impact user experience.
You’ll have real ownership. You won’t just implement tasks — you’ll help define what should be built and how.
You’ll operate in a high-context environment. You’ll work closely with architects and product engineers on problems that cut across system boundaries.
You won’t be gated by domain knowledge. You can come in as a strong backend engineer and ramp quickly without prior chip design or AI experience.
WHAT YOU BRING
WHAT YOU BRING
WHAT YOU BRING
Core Experience
Strong backend engineering fundamentals, with a track record of building reliable, maintainable, and performant systems.
Experience developing production backend services, APIs, or distributed systems.
Fluency in at least one modern backend language and the ability to ramp quickly in others (we use Python and Go).
Good judgment around system design, data modeling, scalability, and performance tradeoffs.
Comfort working in ambiguous, evolving environments with real ownership.
Ability to collaborate effectively with architects, product engineers, and cross-functional teammates.
Experience using modern AI-assisted development tools to improve speed and quality, while maintaining strong ownership of code.
Willingness to learn a new domain and engage with complex product requirements over time.
Senior vs Principal
Senior: You’ve independently led meaningful projects and influenced technical direction.
Principal: You shape architecture, guide major technical decisions, and lead through system complexity across teams.
Bonus
Experience with AWS-based systems
Familiarity with Neptune, graph data models, OpenCypher, DynamoDB, or Postgres
Experience building or scaling real-time systems, collaboration systems, authorization models, or high-performance APIs
Experience improving backend performance in latency-sensitive products
Interest in complex technical products and data-rich workflows
Core Experience
Strong backend engineering fundamentals, with a track record of building reliable, maintainable, and performant systems.
Experience developing production backend services, APIs, or distributed systems.
Fluency in at least one modern backend language and the ability to ramp quickly in others (we use Python and Go).
Good judgment around system design, data modeling, scalability, and performance tradeoffs.
Comfort working in ambiguous, evolving environments with real ownership.
Ability to collaborate effectively with architects, product engineers, and cross-functional teammates.
Experience using modern AI-assisted development tools to improve speed and quality, while maintaining strong ownership of code.
Willingness to learn a new domain and engage with complex product requirements over time.
Senior vs Principal
Senior: You’ve independently led meaningful projects and influenced technical direction.
Principal: You shape architecture, guide major technical decisions, and lead through system complexity across teams.
Bonus
Experience with AWS-based systems
Familiarity with Neptune, graph data models, OpenCypher, DynamoDB, or Postgres
Experience building or scaling real-time systems, collaboration systems, authorization models, or high-performance APIs
Experience improving backend performance in latency-sensitive products
Interest in complex technical products and data-rich workflows
WHY THIS ROLE IS EXCITING
WHY THIS ROLE IS EXCITING
WHY THIS ROLE IS EXCITING
You’ll be building backend systems that directly power a deeply technical product — where correctness, performance, and system design matter.
This is a role for engineers who care about:
Ownership over meaningful systems
Turning messy problems into clean architectures
Building for scale without over-engineering
Working on products where backend decisions truly matter
If you’re a strong backend engineer looking for impact, autonomy, and challenging problems — without needing prior domain expertise — we should talk.
Email Talent@Astrus.ai
TRANSPARENCY
AI Disclosure: Astrus uses AI to assist with parts of the screening and assessment process. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.
You’ll be building backend systems that directly power a deeply technical product — where correctness, performance, and system design matter.
This is a role for engineers who care about:
Ownership over meaningful systems
Turning messy problems into clean architectures
Building for scale without over-engineering
Working on products where backend decisions truly matter
If you’re a strong backend engineer looking for impact, autonomy, and challenging problems — without needing prior domain expertise — we should talk.
Email Talent@Astrus.ai
TRANSPARENCY
AI Disclosure: Astrus uses AI to assist with parts of the screening and assessment process. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.
Ready to radically improve global computation? 🚀📈🌎 🤖
Ready to radically improve global computation? 🚀📈🌎 🤖
Reach out to Talent@Astrus.ai for more details
Reach out to Talent@Astrus.ai for more details