At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and implement scalable backend systems and features across our API and data platforms.
- Company: Join a fast-moving MIT startup revolutionising retail operations with spatial intelligence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, growth opportunities, and a collaborative work environment in Kendall Square.
- Other info: Dynamic team atmosphere with high ownership and rapid personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product growth and engineering culture while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in software design, Python, and cloud infrastructure management.
About the Company
Cartesian is building spatial intelligence for indoor environments to drive operational efficiency. We’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in the $35T global retail industry: in-store inventory visibility. Our platform delivers accurate indoor positioning and actionable product location insights, helping retailers streamline operations, optimize workflows, and reduce inefficiencies. By fusing wireless signals and mobile computer vision, we provide a uniquely scalable and infrastructure-free solution already deployed by international fashion brands. Founded by an MIT engineering professor and alum behind the award-winning, patented core technologies, Cartesian spun out in 2023. Originally backed by the prestigious SBIR Award from the US National Science Foundation, we've bootstrapped to a live product that's now deployed in over a dozen countries and have been aggressively scaling in the market.
About the Role
We are seeking an exceptional engineer to help us 1000x our product scale. You’ll have full ownership over major features, wear a lot of hats, and work alongside a highly technical team of engineers and applied researchers. We work in-person 5 days a week in Kendall Square, right next to MIT and the Charles River.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement reliable, scalable, and cost-effective backend systems and new features across our API, data, ML, and DevOps platforms.
- Be independent and own major features from ideation through deployment.
- Contribute to engineering best practices, planning, roadmap, and culture.
Technical Qualifications
Our highest priority is finding exceptional individuals with a strong sense of simple, effective software design. However, the strongest candidates will have 3+ years of demonstrated expertise in some of the following areas:
- Building scalable web services and intuitive APIs with modern Python
- Distributed systems for compute-heavy ML workloads
- Data structures, database query optimization and efficient data pipelines for TB-scale datasets.
- Developing dashboards for internal and external users
- Managing cloud infrastructure using IaC tools (ideally on Azure), including Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform
- Improving CI/CD pipelines to help us ship quickly and with high quality
About You
- High Ownership, Relentless Problem Solver: You are a generalist who can tackle unfamiliar problems across our stack (infra, data, ML, APIs). You put in the hard work upfront and drive to deliver. You pragmatically fix issues when you find them, rather than waiting for someone else to do so.
- Good Taste: You default to simple, maintainable solutions. You think carefully about how system design impacts customer experience, engineering velocity, and operational complexity. You have good instincts for when added complexity is actually worth it. Most importantly, you are able to articulate your reasoning to help the team make better decisions.
- Team Player and Low Ego: Your decision-making centers around team success rather than being “right”. You give 100% and expect the same from others. You are a good leader, listener, mentor, and doer.
- Growth Oriented: You have a track record of picking up new skills and growing quickly. You are a lifelong learner and actively seek critical feedback from others. You’re defined by where you’re going, not where you started.
Why Now
We’re a fast-moving MIT startup at an important inflection point for our product growth and direction. We are building a talent-dense team of engineers and applied researchers to solve hard, high-impact problems in retail operations. You will have outsized ownership and autonomy. You will grow extremely quickly and make important contributions to our product, engineering culture, and company direction. We will push you to become a better engineer, and we will expect the same from you.
Technology
- Backend: FastAPI, Python
- Data: Postgres, Blob Storage, Parquet
- Machine Learning: PyTorch, Ray
- Infrastructure: Azure, Kubernetes, Helm
- Frontend: Next.js, Typescript, Tailwind
- Mobile: Android, Kotlin
Interview Timeline
- Stage 1: Intro Screen with Co-Founder (30 minutes)
- Stage 2: Technical Background (2 hours)
- Project Deep-Dive
- Coding Exercise (half offline, half live)
- Stage 3: Design + Behavioral (2.5 hours)
- System Design
- Meet CEO & Engineering Team
- References
- Stage 4: Offer!
Software Engineer in Cambridge employer: Cartesian Systems
Cartesian is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment in the heart of Kendall Square, Cambridge. As a rapidly growing startup, we provide our employees with significant ownership and autonomy, allowing them to tackle real-world challenges that have immediate impact. With a culture that values learning, execution, and diverse perspectives, we are committed to fostering employee growth and creating meaningful opportunities for all team members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer in Cambridge
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Cartesian Systems or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Cartesian Systems.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Cartesian Systems.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Cartesian Systems that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Cartesian Systems.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Cartesian Systems and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cartesian Systems
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Cartesian Systems uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
