HHiring Reality
← Descript

Software Engineer, Product

Descript
Location
San Francisco, CA or Remote, US
Posted
17 days ago
Department
Engineering
Salary
$220,000-$265,000
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • 5+ years of experience building and shipping customer-facing products, including end-to-end features that measurably improved user or business outcomes
  • Ability to leverage agents to multiply impact and think critically about harnessing AI
  • Experience owning features/experiments end to end, from planning through launch, using analytics and metrics to evaluate impact
  • Ability to orient quickly in unfamiliar systems and ask thoughtful questions
  • Attention to how software feels and the ability to notice when technically correct results are not user-friendly
  • Skill in creating clarity in ambiguous work and simplifying product and technical complexity
Nice to have
  • Experience with similar products such as editors, media products, creative tools, or payment systems
  • Familiarity with Descript's tech stack: TypeScript, HTML/CSS, React, Redux, Node.js, API design, Temporal Workflows, and SQL
  • Experience crafting with AI, such as building agents or experimenting with media-generation models
  • Knowledge of experimentation and product analytics
  • Understanding of video intricacies like shaders, graphics rendering, audio/visual effects, and media formats
What the job really is

As a Software Engineer in Product at Descript, you will take ownership of product features from conception to delivery, collaborating closely with product and design teams. You will work on various aspects of the product, including video editing, growth and monetization, media management, and AI integration, while building full-stack systems that enhance user experiences and drive measurable outcomes.

Benefits
  • Base salary range: $220,000-$265,000, plus equity and benefits
  • Generous healthcare package
  • 401k matching program
  • Catered lunches
  • Flexible vacation time
Things to weigh
  • No specific mention of remote work policies beyond occasional in-person collaboration opportunities
  • The tech stack includes some legacy components, such as Node.js, but also mentions modern practices
  • The company is still early-stage, which may mean less stability compared to larger firms
Job score4.2/5
Benefits3/5
Freshness4/5
Career value4/5
Role clarity5/5
Pay transparency5/5

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