Engine is the AI-native platform for intelligent travel. For a decade, Engine has built the proprietary technology and supply behind modern business travel, serving over 40,000 customers and nearly 2 million travelers, along with leading travel and AI companies that build on Engine's infrastructure. One system powers business travel, group travel, human agents, and AI agents.
That work has earned Engine recognition as TravelTech's Reservation Platform of the Year (2026), a spot on Inc.'s Power Partners list (2026), and one of Built In's Best Places to Work (2020–2026).
We're looking for bold, ambitious people to help redefine how businesses manage and experience travel. Working here, you can expect exponential growth, an ambitious pace, full ownership, and high-caliber colleagues who push you to do the best work of your career. Every hire raises the bar.
Come outpace the ordinary and build the future of travel with us.
As a Staff Software Engineer at Engine, you’ll play a vital role in an environment where innovation meets collaboration. Here’s what you’ll take charge of:
- Design and Implement: Drive System Design output across the team, craft innovative software systems and APIs that contribute to the success of Engine’s mission, focusing on scalability, security, and performance.
- AI First Mindset: Deep agentic experience (Claude Code, Cursor, or comparable) tools; not just daily use, but in depth understanding of agentic workflows, how to build a harness, how to structure a codebase for agents, etc.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product and Data Science, to unlock new opportunities and deliver seamless experiences for our customers.
- Leadership: Mentor mid-to-senior level engineers, and lead efforts to ensure the quality, scalability, and robustness of our software.
- Ownership: Lead key initiatives that improve efficiency, enhance system performance, and drive customer satisfaction.
We’re looking for someone who’s ready to make an impact and grow alongside us:
- Experience: 8+ years of hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining highly available and high-performing distributed systems. You have a proven track record of building public-facing (consumer-grade) APIs and managing the complexities of versioning, deprecation, and consumption-based rate limiting.
- Tech Stack: Node.js, TypeScript, Kotlin (or similar modern backend languages), React, and AWS
- Skills: You’re a problem-solver with a strong grasp of software design principles, scalability, and system architecture. You thrive in fast-paced, innovative environments and prioritize Domain-Driven Design.
- AI-first as a daily practice, not a talking point. You are actively using agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or comparable) and you have a point of view on where they help, where they hurt, and how to set the team's defaults.
We accept applications for this role on an ongoing basis. We review applications as they are received and encourage interested candidates to apply early.
Compensation
Our compensation packages are based on several factors, including your experience, expertise, and location. In addition to a competitive base salary, all roles receive equity. Depending on the role, total compensation may also include an annual bonus. Your recruiter will share your complete compensation package as you move through the process.
The Engine Edge: Perks & Compensation
We believe in rewarding great work with great benefits:
- Compensation: Competitive base pay tied to role and experience, with equity for all employees. Some roles are also eligible for bonuses or commissions.
- Benefits: Check out our full list at engine.com/culture
- Environments for Success: Different roles have different needs in terms of the environments that drive success which is why we have a hybrid-hub model. Whether you are in one of our amazing offices or fully remote, we'll make sure you have what you need to succeed.
Perks and benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and more
Engine Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
Our office is in Chicago's West Loop, directly above Ogilvie Station and a short walk from Union Station, an easy commute from anywhere in the metro, and right between the Loop and Fulton Market's restaurants, cafes, and rooftops.
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