Extend
Staff Software Architect
Job Summary
The Staff Architect role at Extend focuses on driving AI innovation and designing AI-native features within the company's platform, emphasizing LLMs and agentic systems. The candidate will provide technical leadership, mentor teams, and contribute to the company's long-term AI strategy. Key responsibilities include architecting scalable AI solutions, integrating intelligent agents, and educating engineering and business teams about AI technologies. The position requires experience in ML/AI, distributed systems, and practical development of AI components, with an emphasis on innovation and strategic thinking.
Required Skills
Benefits
Job Description
About Extend:
Today, Extend works with more than 1,000 leading merchant partners across industries, including fashion/apparel, cosmetics, furniture, jewelry, consumer electronics, auto parts, sports and fitness, and much more. Extend is backed by some of the most prominent technology investors in the industry, and our headquarters is in downtown San Francisco.
Staff Architect, AI Native Platform
Are you a visionary architect with a passion for pushing the boundaries of AI in enterprise software? Do you thrive on building innovative solutions and empowering others to do the same? Extend is seeking a Staff Architect to join our Architecture team and drive our AI Native strategy forward.
At our core, we're built on a foundation of 100% serverless infrastructure, 100% infrastructure as code, 100% automated testing, and a top-tier developer experience. We're now extending this commitment to AI Native solutions, aiming to empower both our business users and engineers with cutting-edge AI capabilities.
As a Staff Architect, you'll be instrumental in shaping our long-term technical strategy, fostering innovation, and educating our organization on effective AI technologies. Your work will directly impact our platform's evolution, making it more intelligent, intuitive, and powerful.
What You'll Do:
- Drive AI Innovation: Lead the exploration and adoption of AI-first solutions, encompassing not only current LLM-based approaches but also broader machine learning and data science methodologies.
- Architect AI-Powered Solutions: Design and guide the implementation of AI-native features within our platform, with a focus on:
- LLM Use: Strategize the effective and ethical integration of Large Language Models.
- Agentic Tools & Development Practices: Define and promote best practices for building and deploying agentic systems.
- Reusable Internal Agents: Develop and evangelize the creation of versatile, internal AI agents that streamline operations and development.
- Platform Integration: Incorporate intelligent agents into our platform to simplify complex configurations and enhance deterministic decision-making processes.
- Strategic Vision: Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap for AI within our company, identifying emerging trends and opportunities.
- Enablement & Education: Act as a subject matter expert, upskilling engineers and business teams on AI concepts, tools, and best practices through mentorship, training, and documentation.
- Technical Leadership: Provide hands-on guidance and thought leadership on architecting scalable, resilient, and performant AI systems.
What We're Looking For:
- Strong Foundation in ML/AI: A proven background in applied ML, data science, and a passion for engineering AI-first solutions.
- Architectural Prowess: Experience designing and delivering complex, scalable distributed systems, preferably in a serverless environment.
- Hands-On Experience: Practical experience with LLMs, agentic systems, and developing performant AI components.
- Strategic Thinker: Ability to translate business needs into technical strategies and anticipate future technological shifts.
- Exceptional Communicator: Strong ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, from engineers to executives.
- Mentorship & Teaching: A genuine desire to teach, mentor, and elevate the AI capabilities of an entire organization.
Expected Pay Range: $189,000 - $200,000 per year salaried*
* The target base salary range for this position is listed above. Individual salaries are determined based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, skills and experience.
Life at Extend:
- Working with a great team from diverse backgrounds in a collaborative and supportive environment.
- Competitive salary based on experience, with full medical and dental & vision benefits.
- Stock in an early-stage startup growing quickly.
- Generous, flexible paid time off policy.
- 401(k) with Financial Guidance from Morgan Stanley.
Extend
Extend helps merchants generate revenue and mitigate fraud through modern post-purchase solutions like product and shipping protection. Lower risk. Greater reward.
See more jobsSafe Remote Job Search Tips
Verify Employer Thoroughly
Research the company's identity thoroughly before applying. Check for a professional website with contacts, active social media, and LinkedIn profiles. Verify details across platforms and look for reviews on Glassdoor or Trustpilot to confirm legitimacy.
Never Pay to Get a Job
Legitimate employers never require payment for applications, training, background checks, or equipment. Always reject upfront payment requests or demands for bank details, even if they claim it's for purchasing necessary work gear on your behalf.
Safeguard Your Personal Information
Protect sensitive data like SSN, bank details, or ID copies. Share this only after accepting a formal, written job offer. Ensure it's submitted via a secure company system or portal, never through insecure channels like standard email attachments.
Scrutinize Communication & Interviews
Watch for communication red flags: poor grammar, generic emails (@gmail), vague details, or undue pressure. Be highly suspicious of interviews held only via text or chat apps; legitimate companies typically use video or phone calls.
Beware of Unrealistic Offers
If an offer's salary or benefits seem unrealistically high for the work involved, be cautious. Research standard pay for similar roles. Offers that appear 'too good to be true' are often scams designed to lure you into providing information or payment.
Insist on a Formal Contract
Always secure and review a formal, written job offer or employment contract before starting work or sharing final personal details. Ensure it clearly defines your role, compensation, key terms, and conditions to avoid misunderstandings or scams.