Senior Software Engineer - Media

Descript is revolutionizing the audio and video content creation space with their AI-powered platform. As a Senior Software Engineer on the Media team, you'll be at the forefront of building a cutting-edge video editing and streaming platform that handles petabyte-scale data processing.

The role combines deep technical expertise in video technologies with the opportunity to work on challenging problems in a fast-growing startup environment. You'll be working with formats, codecs, and processing tools like MP4, HVEC, HLS, WebRTC, and ffmpeg, while also supporting AI research teams in implementing advanced features including multimodal LLMs and video transformation models.

Descript offers a unique opportunity as a company that has achieved product-market fit while still being early enough for individual contributors to make significant impact. With backing from prestigious investors like OpenAI, Andreessen Horowitz, and Spark Capital, and led by a proven CEO, the company is well-positioned for growth.

The company culture emphasizes a flat organizational structure where expertise and contributions are valued over titles. While based in San Francisco's Mission District, the company offers flexible working arrangements with a hybrid approach. They believe in the importance of in-person collaboration while respecting individual work preferences.

The compensation is competitive, ranging from $160,000 to $230,000 per year, complemented by benefits including healthcare, catered lunches, and flexible vacation time. Descript is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds to contribute to their team of 150 employees.

This role is perfect for experienced engineers who are passionate about media technologies, enjoy solving complex technical challenges, and want to be part of building the future of content creation tools. The position offers both technical depth and the opportunity to mentor others while working on a product used by a passionate user community.