Principal Engineer

About Valid Valid is one of the fastest-growing AI-native marketing companies. We’re building the company that replaces the traditional marketing agency. We help brands grow across Meta, TikTok, Google, and TV by combining software, AI agents, creative production, and media buying into a single system. Every day, we launch, measure, and iterate on advertising campaigns at a speed that traditional agencies can’t match. Our team operates at the intersection of AI video, filmmaking, performance marketing, and engineering. We believe the future of marketing isn’t people or AI, it’s people working alongside AI systems to produce better work, faster. The model is already working. Valid manages more than $40M in annualized advertising spend and partners with some of the fastest-growing consumer and technology companies, including Replit, Rover, Tolan, and others. Since launching, we’ve consistently won head-to-head against incumbent agencies by delivering better performance and moving faster. Backed by Canaan, Neo, Steve Huffman, Scott Banister, and other leading investors and operators, we’re building the next generation of marketing. This Role Is for You If You're: Seasoned in architecting and implementing high scale and throughput systems Accomplished in leading engineering teams in delivering game-changing products Skilled at partnering with product and business counterparts in roadmap and decisioning Relentless in managing resources and allocation towards yielding optimal outcomes Principal Engineer in a Nutshell You are the top day-to-day engineer at Valid. You reside at the confluence of all technical decisions, partnering with the CTO to determine engineering direction on both macro and micro scales. You thoughtfully operate at the cusp between hands-on software development, high-level design, and technical leadership. You lead and mentor our engineering team in executing and delivering against our aggressive roadmap, and as Valid's prospects and mandate grow, so too do your role and responsibilities. In short, your execution and dedication as Principal Engineer will be a key factor in Valid's success. Key Qualifications Experience: 6+ years software engineering experience with a strong focus on system architecture of large-scale, performant distributed systems Technical Leadership: 3+ years leading technical teams, setting engineering standards, and driving architectural decisions in an agile environment Engineering Excellence: Mastery in Python (our day-to-day operating language) and a second-nature commitment to engineering best practices (e.g., CI/CD, testing, fault-tolerance) Cloud and Infrastructure: Hands-on experience managing and deploying cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud) and orchestration tools (e.g., k8s, Docker) Familiarity with AI/ML: Proficient knowledge of AI and machine learning platforms/APIs, frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and algorithms Cross-functional Collaboration: Track record of optimizing technical outcomes that account for engineering, product, and business partners and requirements Nice to Have 2+ years in adtech or martech engineering in a senior capacity 2+ years in early-stage (pre-Series B) startups 2+ years as an engineering people manager What We Offer Salary: We strive to make offers in the 90th-plus percentile of similar stage/trajectory companies for the level offered Equity: Generous grants commensurate with experience and company stage Benefits: 401k, healthcare, FSA, meals (when in-person) Workplace: Remote-possible with a preference for IRL in our San Francisco headquarters Impact: A foundational opportunity to revolutionize the landscape of digital advertising, forever Growth: Active support in growing your career, skills, and outcomes in tandem with the growth of our business Culture: A mission-driven organization where contributions are honored, diversity in experience and background is recognized, and disruption is core to everything we pursue You're Probably a Good Fit If: Applying the latest tech in novel ways to delight customers excites you, and your goal is to maximize ownership You want to join something early-stage and can thrive in an environment of organized chaos: Organized: Build with purpose, work efficiently, communicate clearly, especially in writing. Chaos: We think the best place to learn is in market and will do what it takes to ship as quickly as possible. This Role Might Not Be a Fit If: You don't enjoy wearing multiple hats You don't enjoy mentoring others You dislike navigating ambiguity