Software Engineer
$125k - $135k USD
About OpenSesame
OpenSesame is the trusted partner for Workforce Reinvention in the age of AI. OpenSesame delivers integrated software, curated and customizable content, and expert services – embedded into existing learning, HR, and work systems – to help organizations expand their human+AI potential and thrive through change.
Learn more: www.opensesame.com/about
About the Team
The Core engineering team is a platform enablement team responsible for OpenSesame’s identity management and commerce domains. We build and maintain shared services that support product engineering teams across the company.
We operate in an agile, continuously improving, automation-oriented environment. We regularly inspect how we work, identify what’s slowing us down, and make deliberate changes to improve quality, reliability, and delivery.
About the Job
As a Software Engineer I on the Core team, you will design, build, and maintain production software for shared platform services in the domains we own. This role is for an engineer who is past entry level and ready to take ownership of well-defined work while continuing to grow technical judgment, system understanding, and independence.
You will work across a modern tech stack including TypeScript, Node.js, GitHub Actions, Terraform, AWS, SQL, and identity technologies such as SAML and OIDC. Experience with SSO platforms is a plus; we use Okta. You will also work in and around legacy systems and are expected to approach complex systems with curiosity and care.
You are expected to make meaningful contributions with increasing autonomy, take ownership of assigned work, and participate fully in team practices such as pairing, code reviews, on-call, and releases. You will continue learning by shipping real features, improving existing systems, and steadily expanding the scope of problems you can solve.
Performance Objectives
In your first 3 months:
Summary: Become an effective contributor by learning the Core team’s codebase, development practices, and operational expectations.
- Team Collaboration: Build working relationships through pairing and teaming. Participate actively in standups, planning, retrospectives, and other required team meetings.
- Code Contributions: Contribute small, well-scoped changes to Core services and tooling, following team standards.
- Development Practices: Participate in code reviews and write appropriate unit tests and smoke tests for your changes.
- System Familiarity: Develop a working mental model of at least one Core domain or service and how it fits into the broader platform.
Within 6 months:
Summary: Become an independent and reliable contributor, owning meaningful work and operational responsibilities.
- Ownership: Own well-defined user stories or technical tasks from design through deployment with minimal oversight.
- Codebase Proficiency: Confidently modify and maintain your team’s primary codebases. Begin developing a clear area of focus within Core.
- Operational Readiness: Participate independently in the on-call rotation. Investigate and triage issues using logs and observability tools, escalating when appropriate.
- Technical Judgment: Apply unhappy-path thinking, defensive programming, and performance awareness. Make sound tradeoffs with guidance from senior engineers.
By the end of your first year:
Summary: Operate as a fully capable Software Engineer on the Core team.
- Delivery & Ownership: Deliver features and improvements across Core systems with little day-to-day guidance. Break work into small, incremental steps that deliver value.
- Quality: Take responsibility for code quality and maintainability. Leave systems better than you found them through continuous refactoring.
- System Understanding: Maintain a clear mental model of Core-owned systems and their dependencies. Anticipate the impact of changes and surface risks early.
- Collaboration: Communicate clearly in technical discussions, challenge ideas respectfully, and embrace collective ownership of outcomes.
- Growth: Proactively identify opportunities to improve code and systems. Seek feedback and continue progressing toward the Senior Software Engineer skill set.
What Success Looks Like
- Core services and tooling you work on are reliable, well-tested, and maintainable.
- You can be trusted to take a piece of work from idea to production with minimal oversight.
- You contribute positively to team culture through collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement.
- Senior engineers rely on you as a strong execution partner, and you are clearly on a growth trajectory toward Senior Software Engineer.
Location: This position can be based anywhere in the US. We operate as a remote-first company and invest in all-company in-person meetings several times a year.
Performance Driven: We're looking for self-starters with a track record of delivering excellent results, but we're highly selective about who we hire. We don't focus on typical job requirements; instead, we're interested in specific examples from your past experiences. All positions can be based anywhere in the US, and require up to 15 days of travel per year, with senior management and leadership teams requiring up to 35 days.
Compensation: The annual salary range for this role is $125,000–$135,000, depending on experience. At OpenSesame, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees upon hire, including professional development, ISOs, health insurance, 401(k) matching, and paid time off. We carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors, relying on market data to determine compensation and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience. We prioritize pay transparency, fairness, and equity to create a positive and inclusive work environment, regularly reviewing our compensation practices to align with our values and goals.
Equal Employment Opportunity: OpenSesame is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer that values and welcomes diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of various legally protected characteristics, including criminal history, and strive to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We prioritize safety and security and may use your information accordingly, and you can contact us for assistance or accommodations during the job application process.
Pay Transparency: At OpenSesame, we prioritize pay transparency, fairness, and equity to create a positive and inclusive work environment, regularly reviewing our compensation practices to align with our values and goals. We provide competitive and fair compensation to our employees based on their skills, experience, and performance.
CPRA (California Candidates): When you submit your application, OpenSesame may collect and use your personal information in accordance with our privacy policy and the CPRA. This may include personal details and employment history, and will only be used for employment-related purposes. We may share this information with third-party service providers, but we will not sell it to third parties. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us, and for more information on your rights under the CPRA, refer to our privacy policy or the California Attorney General's website.
We Care About Your Security: We’ve been made aware of a phishing scam involving individuals impersonating OpenSesame recruiters. All legitimate communication from our team will come from @opensesame.com email addresses. If you receive a suspicious message, please contact us directly at careers@opensesame.com. Your security matters to us — thank you for staying vigilant