Software Engineer, Backend

About Fab2: The fab2 team designs all the hardware and software needed to manufacture chips and builds the fabs, tools, and components in-house. We're seeking exceptional, hands-on individuals who push the limits of what's possible. Founded by Sam Zeloof (known for making chips in his garage) and Jim Keller (a 40-year semiconductor industry leader), fab2 combines groundbreaking innovation with deep industry expertise.

About The Team

The Fab Software team develops the central web application that powers our entire fab. Our users are internal process engineers, and we build tools for managing hardware, real-time system monitoring and control, process design, and experimental data analysis. This role spans frontend, backend, and data engineering, all focused on creating a programmable, observable, and easy-to-operate fab as we advance toward a fully software-defined chip manufacturing process driven by AI and ML orchestration.

About The Role

We are seeking a Senior Backend Software Engineer to build the core systems powering our fab product. You will focus on backend architecture, data modeling, and bridging the gap between our central web applications and physical manufacturing hardware. Success means enabling process engineers to seamlessly and reliably control, monitor, and orchestrate fab hardware in real time through the systems you architect.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of high-performance backend APIs (Go, Rust, gRPC) for our central fab product.
• Break down complex manufacturing challenges into actionable data models (recipes, runs, tools, wafers, jobs) and technical plans for yourself and the broader team.
• Integrate web applications with underlying hardware and embedded systems to ensure seamless, real-time operations.
• Ensure the reliability, observability, and performance of mission-critical manufacturing systems, holding yourself and the team accountable to clear timelines.
• Drive long-term system architecture, challenging existing assumptions to support evolving fab processes and yield optimization goals.

Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in backend systems engineering with Go, Rust, or gRPC.
• Experience leading and delivering highly complex, business-critical production systems from end to end.
• Deep understanding of systems fundamentals: concurrency, networking, and databases.
• Proven ability to own systems under real-world constraints, including failure recovery, troubleshooting, and on-call support.
• Track record of earning trust, providing clarity to your team, and leading by example through consistent follow-through.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with hardware or embedded systems.
• Deep database knowledge (Postgres internals, migrations, performance tuning).
• Interest in networking, security, or distributed systems.
• Experience running a homelab or building infrastructure for fun.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Generous Paid Time Off inclusive of Holidays and Sick Time.
• Visa Sponsorship.
• Life and Disability Insurance.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Weekly Learning & Development opportunities.
• Commuter Benefits including Parking and Late Night Uber rides from the office.
• Lunches daily, Dinners 3x per week, Stocked Office Kitchen with Snacks and Spindrifts.

Pay

The annual salary range for this role is $125,000 – $195,000, determined based on qualifications and experience. Total compensation also includes generous equity in fab2.

This position involves access to technology subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to comply with these regulations.