Staff Software Engineer (Full Stack)

San Francisco
Permanent / Full-Time
Software Engineering

Build the digital platform transforming how citizens understand and engage with state-level politics.

About the company

They are a subscription-based digital journalism platform focused on delivering in-depth, non-partisan coverage of state politics and policy. Their approach combines traditional reporting with innovative technology to help readers navigate complex legislative developments across multiple states. Founded by veteran journalists and tech experts, they're filling critical information gaps left by declining local news coverage. Their mission is to make state governance more transparent and accessible through comprehensive reporting on the political decisions that directly impact communities. They maintain a culture that values editorial integrity, technical innovation, and creating products that strengthen civic engagement.

About the role

You'll lead the development of our digital platform across both frontend and backend systems, creating seamless experiences for accessing political coverage. Working with our product and editorial teams, you'll architect solutions for content management, subscription services, and interactive features that help readers understand legislative processes. Your responsibilities include designing scalable APIs, implementing responsive interfaces, and building data visualization tools that transform complex political information into accessible insights. This position requires both technical leadership in establishing engineering practices and hands-on implementation of key platform features.

About your background and skills

Extensive full-stack development experience with expertise in modern web frameworks and architecture patterns. Strong background building content-driven platforms or subscription services. Proficiency in frontend technologies (React/TypeScript) and backend systems (Node.js/Python). Experience implementing responsive designs that work across devices and optimizing for content discovery. Understanding of data visualization techniques for presenting complex relationships. Ability to mentor junior engineers while delivering high-quality code. Strategic thinking about technical decisions that support journalism in the digital age. Passion for using technology to improve civic understanding and engagement with state-level politics.