Software Engineer

About Handshake

Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.

Why join Handshake now:

• Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel

• Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions

• Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others

• Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

About the Role

As a Software Engineer, you will play a critical role in building the core experiences that help students find opportunities, spanning search, discovery, jobs, and job search.

In this role, you will:

• Design and implement scalable systems powering search and discovery experiences across our platform.

• Build agentic AI experiences for students, including our conversational AI agent for resume help, job search, and interview prep.

• Work with OpenAI real-time APIs and agentic frameworks to deliver intelligent, conversational features.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate new features that drive member value and engagement.

• Contribute to code reviews to maintain high code quality standards and mentor teammates to foster continuous learning.

Desired Capabilities

• 2+ years of experience in software engineering, ideally with consumer platforms or social apps.

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript to deliver robust solutions.

• Strong product sense with a focus on building features that create real value for members.

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) to optimize system performance.

• Excellent communication skills to collaborate within a diverse team environment.

Extra Credit

• Experience with AI, chatbots, or conversational interfaces.

Perks

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, wellness stipend
📚 Growth: Learning stipend, ongoing development
💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.