--- title: 'Staff Software Engineer at Playground' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-software-engineer-playground-new-york-csp4swxec1v7' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Staff Software Engineer at Playground - **Company:** Playground - **Location:** New York, NY - **Compensation:** $250k–$300k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/playground/87721a6e-9bdd-4a6f-91a3-d91418baaf80/application **Skills:** React, Vite, CI/CD, Monorepos, Sentry, Google Cloud Monitoring, PostHog, Datadog, Infrastructure, DevOps, Software Engineering > Build and maintain critical infrastructure to ensure platform scalability, security, and high performance. Optimize build times, improve developer tooling, and implement robust monitoring and logging systems within a fast-paced engineering environment. ## Job description ## COMPANY OVERVIEW Playground is working to make excellent child care accessible to all. Playground has built best in class software to manage all aspects of running a child care business. Playground has raised millions of dollars in funding, has several Statewide contracts, and is working with thousands of schools across the country. Our founders were recently recognized by Forbes as 30 under 30, and our work has been recognized across the country. Playground is at an inflection point, growing at a quick pace, and we are looking to expand our engineering team as quickly as possible. Playground is compromised of a team of owners who are not afraid to dive into large, complex projects. ## JOB DESCRIPTION As part of Playground's engineering team, you will be responsible for building and maintaining critical infrastructure that ensures our platform remains scalable, secure, and high-performing. You will play a crucial role in shaping the future of child care technology by improving system uptime, deployment efficiency, security, and developer tooling. We're looking for self-starters who thrive in taking projects from concept to reality, often working independently with high ownership. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Collaborate with a cross-functional team to enhance deployment pipelines, security measures, and infrastructure scalability. - Optimize Vite configurations to improve build times, reduce bundle sizes, and enhance the developer experience. - Ensure robust separation between development, staging, and production environments while maintaining the ability to debug critical issues. - Implement and maintain a centralized queryable logging system that allows engineers and support teams to efficiently debug and analyze system behavior. - Improve and maintain real-time service uptime monitoring and alerts using tools such as Google Cloud Monitoring, PostHog, Sentry, or similar platforms. - Maintain and improve internal developer tools to enhance productivity, including CI/CD automation and workflow enhancements. - Ensure compliance with security best practices across deployment and infrastructure processes. - Write and maintain clear, accessible documentation for configurations, processes, and best practices. ## REQUIREMENTS - 5+ years of experience in infrastructure, DevOps, or software engineering focused on frontend systems. - Must be proficient in React - Proficiency with modern deployment tools and CI/CD pipelines. - Strong experience with Vite, monorepos, and optimizing frontend build tools. - Experience working with logging and monitoring solutions such as Sentry, Datadog, or Google Cloud Monitoring. - Deep understanding of security best practices and infrastructure resilience. - Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. - Excellent communication and collaboration skills. ## WHY JOIN PLAYGROUND - Competitive salary + equity - 3 weeks of PTO - Health, vision, and dental benefits - $1200/year education stipend - Free lunch daily - New MacBook - Collaborative and supportive work culture with a high level of autonomy and room for growth - Help accelerate our mission to make excellent child care accessible to all! How to Apply If you're excited to join a mission-driven, early-stage company where ownership, craftsmanship, and empathy are at the center of what we do, apply now. The Playground Team is fully in-office in Union Square, NYC. Please ensure you are open to a fully in-person role before applying. Check out our journey https://www.tryplayground.com/about to learn more about our co-founders Dan, Josh, and Sasha. ## About Playground ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Playground provides an all-in-one child care management platform that streamlines operations—including billing, attendance, registration, communication, payroll, and AI-powered assistance—for early education providers. - **Entity Type**: Private (early-stage startup; funding details not fully disclosed) - **Headquarters**: New York City, New York, USA (with a second office in Denver, Colorado) - **Founded**: 2021 - **Founders**: Daniel Andrews, Josh Andrews, and Sasha Reiss ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Child care management software / Early education technology - **Target customers**: B2B – child care programs of all sizes (home-based, centers, multi-site, and government) - **Mission/purpose**: To make excellent child care accessible to all by giving providers the tools to focus on teaching and caring, not administration. ## Products & Services - **Playground Platform (Core)**: SaaS platform handling attendance tracking, billing, registration, communication, paperwork, payroll, and expense management. Includes predictive enrollment forecasting and free data migration. - **Camber (AI Employee)**: An AI agent that answers phone calls, qualifies leads, handles admin tasks, drafts messages, processes refunds, reconciles subsidies, and answers staff/family questions using the program’s handbook and state licensing rules. - **Payroll (Built-in)**: Full-service payroll with tax filing and time tracking tailored for child care. - **Learning Module**: Tools for activity planning, milestone tracking, and family sharing. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly available - **Key Metric**: Estimated annual revenue between $5 M and $25 M (LinkedIn estimate). Serves 5,000+ child care programs and 500,000+ families across all 50 U.S. states. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not disclosed publicly (careers page mentions “amazing investors” but no names listed) - **Growth Signals**: LinkedIn follower base grew 98.9% year over year; strong brand presence with 300,000+ users on the platform; continuously expanding AI capabilities (Camber launch); hiring across engineering, sales, customer success, and marketing for both NYC and Denver offices. ## Competitive Advantages - **AI-first solution** – Camber acts as a virtual part-time hire, handling inquiries and admin tasks that previously required separate tools or staff. - **All-in-one integration** – Replaces multiple legacy tools (separate billing, attendance, payroll, communication) with a single platform designed specifically for child care. - **Predictive analytics** – Forecasting tools help centers anticipate enrollment openings and optimize capacity. - **Free data migration** – Low switching friction for new customers. - **Deeply rooted in the industry** – Founders grew up in a child care family and built the product to solve real pain points they experienced firsthand. ## Strategic Focus - **AI expansion** – Deepening the Camber assistant’s capabilities (inquiry handling, staff support, reporting) and integrating it more tightly with core operations. - **Scaling across segments** – Serving programs of all sizes, from home-based daycares to large multi-site and government-run centers. - **Product unification** – Continuing to consolidate previously fragmented workflows (payroll, billing, learning) into a single, intuitive platform. - **Geographic coverage** – Already active in all 50 states; likely targeting deeper penetration and perhaps eventual international expansion. ## Why Work Here - **Transparent culture** – Leadership holds twice-monthly founder-led all‑hands, sends weekly CEO updates, and runs open “Ask Me Anything” office hours. Biannual anonymous employee surveys are shared with action plans. - **Ownership and autonomy** – The company values “high agency people” who act like owners; employees are encouraged to act independently and intelligently. - **Hybrid/in‑office model** – Teams work from offices in New York City (downtown) and Denver (downtown). On‑site days are the norm, and the interview process includes a paid half‑day onsite. - **Perks & benefits**: - Equity for all full-time employees - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans - Free daily lunch ($4,800/year value) - $1,200 annual education stipend - Generous paid time off - MacBook + desk setup stipend - Discounts on child care supplies (diapers, wipes, etc.) - **Meaningful mission** – Employees build tools that directly free up child care providers’ time, enabling them to focus on children and families. ## Sources 1. [tryplayground.com – Homepage](https://www.tryplayground.com/) 2. [Playground Careers page](https://www.tryplayground.com/careers) 3. [Playground About page](https://www.tryplayground.com/about) 4. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tryplayground) 5. 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