Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer, Desktop Apps) at Perplexity (San Francisco, CA)
Perplexity· San Francisco, CA· $200k–$400k·
Role details
Perplexity at a glance
AI-powered answer engine that returns real-time, cited answers, now expanding into an agentic browser and on-device agents.
Perplexity runs an AI answer engine that searches the live web and returns direct, cited answers instead of a page of links. It has extended that core into an AI browser (Comet), an on-device agent (Computer), a developer API, and vertical tools like patent search.
$1.7B raised · latest: Series E extension · $200M · 2025 (reported $20B valuation) · backed by Accel, IVP, NEA, SoftBank Vision Fund 2
Job description
Perplexity is looking for experienced Generalist Software Engineers to join our Perplexity and Comet application teams. Our team is reshaping knowledge work through our high-impact desktop and Comet apps. The ideal candidate should have strong programming skills and multiple years of experience shipping high-quality, production software. Our stack spans several different skillsets, including Rust, Kotlin, Swift, Typescript, Chromium and Perplexity’s core AI stack. We have found that our strongest engineers are capable of working across multiple codebases and ramping up quickly, and we expect the same high bar for candidates.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with product teams to implement novel mobile experiences.
- Work closely with design teams to design fast and intuitive UI.
- Utilize Perplexity Computer and other Agentic coding tools to accelerate development.
- Collaborate with data science and machine learning teams to instrument, analyze, and improve the end-to-end experience.
- Work with infrastructure and QA teams on deployment processes, including testing, release, and monitoring.
Requirements
- 4+ years industry experience
- Experience in shipping high-quality native applications
- Architecture experience in writing code understandable by both agents and humans
- Deep understanding of app performance
- Ability to own projects and surfaces, and to push them forward proactively
Why work at Perplexity
- Culture & Environment: “Thoughtful support” culture with emphasis on craftsmanship, ownership, entrepreneurship, scholarship, and partnership. Hybrid schedule (4 days in-office) based on location.
- Perks: Daily catered meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner in office), office snacks, ride home program, commuter benefits, home office reimbursement, fitness classes, gym memberships.
- Compensation & Benefits: Competitive salary and equity packages; retirement plans with company match; flexible PTO; holiday shutdown between Christmas and New Year; 12 weeks paid bonding leave; comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Relocation & Visa Support: Relocation assistance and visa/green card sponsorship for eligible roles. Partners with immigration firm to support the process.
- Engineering Excellence: “Technical assessment for relevant roles”; values hands-on contribution, broad skill sets, and merit-based evaluation. Frequent Tech Talks and exposure to greenfield AI research problems.