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Software Engineer – New College Graduate
Job description
At Sift, we’re redefining how modern machines are built, tested, and operated. Our platform gives engineers real-time observability into high-frequency telemetry—eliminating bottlenecks and enabling faster, more reliable development.
Sift was born from our work at SpaceX on Dragon, Falcon, Starlink, and Starship—where scaling telemetry, debugging flight systems, and ensuring mission reliability demanded new infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Google, and Palantir, Sift is built for mission-critical systems where precision and scalability are non-negotiable.
As a New College Graduate Software Engineer, you’ll join a small, fast-moving team building foundational systems for the future of engineering. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced engineers, contribute to production code, and help design scalable solutions from the ground up.
In This Role, You’ll
- Contribute to the design and development of high-performance, scalable systems for data processing and visualization
- Build features for engineers to explore and act on millions of sensor data points
- Work closely with senior engineers in code reviews, design discussions, and product planning
- Learn best practices in distributed systems, DevOps, and frontend/backend development
- Help shape engineering culture, standards, and processes at an early-stage startup
The Skillset You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, or another STEM discipline
- Strong coursework or project experience in data structures, algorithms, or data analysis
- Eagerness to learn large-scale distributed systems and real-time data platforms
- Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
Bonus Points
- Experience with streaming or data tools (Kafka, Flink, Spark, Beam)
- Familiarity with databases (PostgreSQL, Timescale, Druid, or similar)
- Exposure to frontend frameworks (React, TypeScript)
- Experience with DevOps practices (Git, CI/CD, testing, monitoring)
Engineering At Sift:
You'll have the opportunity to help evolve and scale our platform because we're still in the early stages of building the product. Relevant technologies include:
- Web frontend & backend: ECharts, Go, gRPC, PostgreSQL, Protobuf, Radix, React, Redux, and TypeScript
- Data: Rust, Arrow, DataFusion, Kafka, Flink, Parquet
- Infrastructure: Docker, AWS, Kubernetes, Linux, Grafana
Location:
Sift’s headquarters is in El Segundo, CA. We collaborate in person twice a week—on Mondays and Thursdays—and come together for a full week every two months. We’re open to relocating candidates to LA for the right candidate.
Salary range: $100,000 - $140,000 per year. Plus equity and benefits.
Eligibility:
US Person Required: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder due to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) / EAR (Export Administration Regulations) compliance requirements.
About the company
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Our Story
Sift is transforming how modern machines are built and operated. Our platform goes beyond traditional monitoring, enabling automated data review that catches unusual conditions in systems too complex for manual checks. This not only enhances reliability but also dramatically speeds up development cycles. At our core, we provide a unified solution for ingesting, storing, and analyzing vast amounts of machine data. By combining powerful data processing with easy-to-use visualizations, we help engineers make sense of enormous amounts of information. From spacecraft to self-driving cars, Sift is the backbone of innovation for companies pushing technology to new limits. Born from the challenges of spaceflight, Sift aims to accelerate technological progress. We believe that by giving engineers better tools to understand and improve their creations, we can unlock a new era of innovation. Our mission goes beyond solving today's engineering problems; we're building the foundation for a future where the most ambitious machines are developed with confidence, run with precision, and constantly improved. We're also tackling related challenges like simplifying regulatory compliance, and improving manufacturing processes. By connecting data from various sources—from sensors to manufacturing records to regulatory requirements—we're empowering a new generation of engineers to build the technologies that will shape our world. Join us in our journey to usher in this new age of reliable, groundbreaking technology. Whether you're launching rockets, developing autonomous systems, or advancing energy and transportation, Sift is your partner in turning vast amounts of data into insights that drive innovation forward.