About Alpha

Alpha is a product studio at the crossroads of AI and consumer social, backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and some of the top investors in tech. Our mission is to build social products that we—and the world—can’t stop using.

Our first product, Clubhouse, redefined how people connect through live audio. Now, we’re quietly building the next generation of voice-driven, AI-powered social experiences. With millions of users, years of runway, and a culture of relentless innovation, we’re entering a new era for real-time, human connection.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join the Core Team responsible for the live Clubhouse app in production today. You’ll help shape product direction, optimize monetization features, and ensure app performance for millions of users — all while moving fast and iterating often.

You’ll collaborate directly with our founders, product, and design teams to ship at startup speed while maintaining long-term scalability and code health.

What You’ll Do

• Build and ship backend systems that power discovery, ranking, and personalization for millions of users.

• Design and deliver rapid experiments to improve engagement, retention, and monetization.

• Evolve the Clubhouse backend architecture for performance, reliability, and maintainability.

• Partner cross-functionally with PMs, designers, and data scientists to define experiments and measure impact.

• Advocate for simplicity and maintainability, making thoughtful trade-offs between speed and stability.

• Help shape the evolution of a product that connects people through meaningful voice experiences.

Who You Are

• 4–5 years of backend development experience in Python or Java, with strong database knowledge (PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, or similar).

• Product-minded engineer — you care about user impact as much as elegant code.

• Strong grasp of experimentation frameworks, A/B testing, and data-driven iteration.

• Experienced in balancing fast MVP delivery with long-term system scalability.

• Excellent communicator and collaborator, comfortable working across disciplines.

• Curious, humble, and energized by building social products that scale globally.

Why You’ll Love It Here

At Alpha, you’ll have the freedom to build, the resources of a world-class team, and the backing of a16z. You’ll shape the evolution of products that could redefine how people connect in the age of AI.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $227,000 – $253,000 USD

• Equity: Meaningful ownership in the company

• Work Setup: Hybrid — SF HQ or fully remote across the U.S.

• Benefits: Comprehensive health coverage, generous PTO, and world-class growth opportunities

We’re committed to ensuring this is the best professional experience of your life.

📍 Location: San Francisco (HQ) or Remote (U.S.)

🌐 Learn more: clubhouse.com