Staff Software Engineer (Pittsburgh)
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 21, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 1, 2026.
About Gray Swan
Gray Swan is on a mission to empower the world to use AI safely and securely. We evaluate AI models for the leading frontier labs along with building real-time threat detection and adaptive adversarial red teaming agents for teams deploying AI.
We're a team of approximately 50 people, well-funded, growing quickly. Our work directly influences how the world deploys AI agents and systems at scale..
The Role
We’re looking for a software engineer who wants to build things end to end and doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. You’ll work across the stack-frontend, backend APIs, and databases-helping us turn ideas into real product and improve what’s already in production.
You don’t need to have used every tool we use. What matters is that you have solid full-stack experience, pick up new technologies quickly, and are comfortable owning work without a lot of process or hand-holding. We are still in the early stages of our growth, so if you like autonomy, responsibility, and moving fast, then please apply for this opportunity!
What You’ll Do:
Design and develop web applications using modern frontend frameworks like Svelte
Build intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that delight users
Develop and maintain backend APIs using tools like FastAPI
Manage and optimize database systems like MongoDB
Collaborate with our ML research team to integrate AI experiences into our products
Who You Are:
Proficiency in TypeScript or JavaScript
Experience with frontend frameworks such as React, Vue, or Svelte
Solid understanding of HTML and CSS
Hands-on experience building backend APIs
Knowledge of database systems (SQL or NoSQL; MongoDB is a plus)
Bonus Points If You Have:
SvelteKit experience
Python proficiency and AI/ML framework exposure
Experience in creating AI-driven applications
Experience deploying and scaling applications on cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices to streamline development workflows
Knowledge of secure coding practices and mitigating vulnerabilities in web applications
Contributions to open-source projects or an active GitHub/portfolio showcasing relevant work
Experience with testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, Playwright) to ensure code quality
Understanding of AI safety principles or ethical considerations in AI systems
If you don’t have 100% of these, you should still seriously consider applying. We care more about what you can do than your credentials.
You’ll Thrive Here If You:
You've learned things about your code only production traffic can teach
You're comfortable debugging across the stack - from browser devtools to database query plans.
You've worked in environments where moving fast matters and you know how to balance speed with sustainability.
You're interested in applying your security mindset to AI, where the threat model is still being written
What We Offer:
We offer a competitive compensation package designed to reward impact and incentivize growth. Our compensation philosophy is informed by our current valuation and recent industry data.
Compensation: $210k-$280k plus performance based bonus and meaningful equity package
Benefits:
401k with up to 4% matching
28 days annual leave (vacation + holidays)
Health, dental, and vision coverage
Catered lunches (Pittsburgh office)
Flexible work arrangements
Visa sponsorship available for exceptional candidates
Typical Interview Process
Application review. We read everything; we’ll respond within 10 days.
Recruiter Screen. We learn about you; you learn about us.
Technical interview or Hiring Manager Interview.
Role related assesment
Experience & culture interview
Reference checks. We’ll reach out to 3-5 references that you provide.
Offer. If it’s mutual, we move fast.
How to Apply
Submit your resume, link to your portfolio, and answer the questions on the application.