Software Engineer - AI

Department: Engineering

Location: San Francisco

Compensation: $170K – $240K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

Company Overview

Promise modernizes how government agencies and utilities support people in financial difficulty. We build technology that makes it simple for residents to receive benefits, engage with assistance programs, set up flexible payment plans, and stay on track—while helping agencies increase efficiency, recover revenue, and deliver services with dignity. Our mission is to transform public systems so they work better for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

Our team includes experts from companies like Palantir, Google, Stripe , and esteemed government leaders. We work hard and believe deeply in what we do. Were looking for excellent people to build innovative, resilient technology.

Backed by over $50 million in funding from top investors – such as Reid Hoffman, Howard Schultz, Michael Seibel, Y Combinator, 8VC, The General Partnership, First Round Capital, Kapor Capital, XYZ Ventures, and Bronze Investments – Promise has been recognized as one of Fast Companys Worlds Most Innovative Companies of 2022,” “Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2024,” and Y Combinator’s #1 GovTech startup.

About the Role

At Promise, we’re transforming how people in financial difficulty connect with public services—using technology to make systems simpler, faster, and more human. As a Software Engineer - AI, you’ll design and deliver end-to-end generative AI and large language model (LLM) applications that directly power this mission.

You’ll build AI pipelines and infrastructure for prompt engineering, fine-tuning, document parsing, and RAG systems, and help bring new AI capabilities from early concept into real-world deployment. You’ll be developing AI products that will be deployed across a variety of complex customer use cases. This role requires comfort operating in ambiguity and strong technical judgment about what to build now versus what to scale over time. Your work will drive innovation, automation, and efficiency across our platform—helping government services reach people more effectively and with greater dignity.

This is a chance to be on the frontier of applied AI: shaping systems that not only push technical boundaries but also make a real-world impact at scale.

What You’ll Do

• Build with purpose: Design and develop AI-powered applications and services, focusing on generative AI and LLMs.

• Create pipelines: Implement services for generative AI integrations, document parsing, model fine tuning, and RAG systems, ensuring they are reliable and production-ready.

• Drive automation: Partner across teams to identify opportunities where AI reduces friction, increases efficiency, and solves real-world challenges.

• Stay ahead: Track and apply advancements in the AI landscape, guiding strategy and adoption.

• Shape strategy: Contribute to the vision, goals, and roadmap for AI/ML development at Promise as an individual contributor with meaningful ownership over technical decisions.

Nice to Have

While not required, we’re especially excited about candidates who:

• Have taken a product or major feature from 0→1.

• Have experience building in early-stage or high-growth environments.

• Have founded or co-founded something — even if it didn’t succeed.

• Have scaled AI-powered systems beyond initial prototypes.

• Bring strong product instincts alongside technical depth.

Who Thrives at Promise

You’ll love it here if:

• You are energized by big, complex challenges and the opportunity to solve them.

• You want your work to have a real, measurable impact on people’s lives.

• You take ownership and run toward problems, not away from them.

• You’re energized by building in environments where not everything is fully defined yet.

• You value clear, candid, and constructive communication.

Promise is not for you if:

• You prefer hierarchy and rigid structures. We operate with freedom and responsibility.

• You are uncomfortable with change. We move fast, adapt often, and expect agility.

• You want a typical corporate culture. We are mission-driven, ambitious, and direct.

• You believe efficiency means “doing less.” We believe efficiency means doing better.

How We Support Our People

At Promise, we invest in our team’s well-being, growth, and sense of ownership.

• Equity for All: All full-time employees receive stock options to share in our company’s success.

• 100% Paid Health Coverage: We cover 100% of base medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.

• Hybrid Work: We collaborate in the office at least four days a week to stay connected and aligned as a team.

• Flexible Time Off: Self-managed FTO and 12 paid holidays — we trust you to prioritize your time.

Please note: Benefits are reviewed periodically and may be updated at the sole discretion of Promise.

Promise is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or military or veteran status. Additionally, the Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates. Promise is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, pregnant individuals, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email accommodations@joinpromise.com.

Promise engages in US government contracts and restricts hiring to US persons, which includes US citizens and permanent residents (e.g., Green Card holders). Additionally, candidates must reside in the US.

Promise participates in E-Verify. To learn more, view E-Verify Participation Notice and Right to Work Notice.