Software Engineer, Frontier Prototyping

Anthropic
Full-timeโ€ข$320k-485kundefined (USD)
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๐Ÿ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Software Engineer, Frontier Prototyping

Company: Anthropic

Location: San Francisco, CA | New York City, NY | Seattle, WA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Engineering

Date Posted: 2025-06-05

Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (6+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (1 day/week in the office)

๐ŸŽจ Role Summary

  • Rapidly prototype full stack applications showcasing emerging AI capabilities
  • Collaborate with research teams to create intuitive user interfaces
  • Gather feedback from customers and partners to iterate quickly and validate product concepts
  • Coordinate across multiple teams to ensure prototypes integrate with existing infrastructure
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for a versatile and collaborative Full Stack Engineer with a focus on user experience and rapid iteration. The candidate should have experience with rapid prototyping and be comfortable working with APIs, databases, and cloud technologies.

๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Primary Responsibilities

  • Prototype full stack applications to demonstrate emerging AI capabilities in novel user experiences
  • Collaborate closely with research teams to understand new model capabilities and translate them into intuitive user interfaces
  • Build and deploy prototypes for internal test users and external partners, shipping early and often to maximize learning
  • Work directly with customers and early access partners to gather feedback, iterate quickly, and validate product concepts
  • Coordinate across multiple teams at Anthropic to ensure prototypes integrate with existing infrastructure and capabilities
  • Advocate for user experience considerations in the research and development process
  • Provide valuable feedback to research teams about the effectiveness of new model capabilities and where model quality can be improved
  • Generate insights and documentation to guide transition of successful prototypes to full product teams
  • Flexibly contribute to various frontier initiatives based on organizational priorities and emerging opportunities
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The primary focus of this role is to bridge the gap between research breakthroughs and real-world applications by creating innovative interfaces and interactions that unlock new model capabilities.

๐ŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience

Experience: 6+ years of experience building full stack applications with a focus on user experience and rapid iteration

Required Skills:

  • Strong technical skills across modern web development stacks (React, Node.js, Python, etc.)
  • Experience with rapid prototyping and discarding prototypes based on learning
  • Comfortable working with APIs, databases, and cloud technologies
  • Strong communication skills and user empathy to translate complex AI capabilities into intuitive experiences
  • Results-oriented with a bias toward flexibility, impact, and continuous learning
  • Enjoy collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including researchers, designers, and product managers
  • Pick up slack, even if it goes outside your job description
  • Exposure to cutting-edge AI research and its practical applications
  • Care about the societal impacts and ethics of your work

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience building products that involve AI/ML components or APIs
  • Experience with large language models or other AI technologies
  • Experience conducting user research, interviews, and usability testing
  • Experience with real-time applications and WebSocket implementations
  • Experience working with design systems and frontend component libraries
  • Background in both B2B and B2C product development
  • Developed products for a variety of audiences in multiple industries
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: While not required, experience with AI/ML components or APIs, user research, and real-time applications can be beneficial for this role.

๐ŸŽจ Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing full stack applications with a focus on user experience and rapid iteration
  • Include case studies that highlight your ability to create intuitive user interfaces for complex AI capabilities
  • Showcase your ability to gather feedback and iterate quickly based on user input
  • Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams

Process Documentation:

  • Include documentation that outlines your approach to rapid prototyping and user experience design
  • Showcase your ability to provide valuable feedback to research teams about the effectiveness of new model capabilities
  • Demonstrate your ability to generate insights and documentation to guide the transition of successful prototypes to full product teams
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: While a portfolio is not explicitly required, providing a strong portfolio that showcases your skills and experience can significantly strengthen your application.

๐Ÿ’ต Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $320,000 - $485,000 USD per year

Benefits:

  • Competitive compensation and benefits
  • Optional equity donation matching
  • Generous vacation and parental leave
  • Flexible working hours
  • Lovely office space in San Francisco

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with a hybrid work arrangement (1 day/week in the office)

๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role is competitive and reflects the mid-senior level of experience required. Benefits include a comprehensive package to support work-life balance and professional development.

๐ŸŽฏTeam & Company Context

๐Ÿข Company & Design Culture

Industry: Research Services

Company Size: 501-1,000 employees

Founded: 2021

Team Structure:

  • Anthropic works as a single cohesive team on just a few large-scale research efforts
  • The Frontier Prototyping team works closely with both customers and researchers to create innovative interfaces and interactions
  • The team is highly collaborative, and communication skills are valued

Methodology:

  • Anthropic views AI research as an empirical science, which has as much in common with physics and biology as with traditional efforts in computer science
  • The team hosts frequent research discussions to ensure that they are pursuing the highest-impact work at any given time
  • The team values impact over working on smaller and more specific puzzles

Company Website: Anthropic

๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: Anthropic is an AI research company that builds reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. The company values collaboration, communication, and impact-driven research.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Mid-Senior level (6+ years of experience)

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Frontier Prototyping team lead and works closely with researchers, designers, and product managers

Design Impact: The role has a significant impact on the development of innovative user interfaces and the successful integration of emerging AI capabilities

Growth Opportunities:

  • As Anthropic continues to grow, there will be opportunities for the role to expand and take on more responsibility
  • The role provides exposure to cutting-edge AI research and its practical applications, offering opportunities for professional development
  • The collaborative nature of the role offers opportunities to build relationships and gain mentorship from experienced researchers and team members
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The mid-senior level of this role offers significant opportunities for career growth and professional development within Anthropic.

๐ŸŒ Work Environment

Studio Type: Anthropic's office space in San Francisco is designed to facilitate collaboration and creativity

Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA

Design Workspace Context:

  • The office space is designed to accommodate both individual focus and collaborative work
  • The team works closely together, with a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration
  • The office is equipped with modern technology and tools to support the team's work

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) with a hybrid work arrangement (1 day/week in the office)

๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: Anthropic's work environment is designed to support collaboration, creativity, and productivity, with a focus on balancing individual focus and teamwork.

๐Ÿ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

  • The interview process includes a technical assessment, a portfolio review, and a behavioral interview
  • The technical assessment focuses on the candidate's ability to rapidly prototype full stack applications
  • The portfolio review assesses the candidate's ability to create intuitive user interfaces and gather feedback
  • The behavioral interview focuses on the candidate's communication skills, user empathy, and collaboration abilities

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight case studies that demonstrate your ability to create intuitive user interfaces for complex AI capabilities
  • Demonstrate your ability to gather feedback and iterate quickly based on user input
  • Showcase your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams

Challenge Preparation:

  • The technical assessment may include a take-home challenge or an on-site coding exercise
  • The challenge will focus on the candidate's ability to rapidly prototype full stack applications
  • The challenge will be designed to mimic real-world scenarios and assess the candidate's ability to work under time constraints

ATS Keywords: Full Stack Development, User Experience, Rapid Prototyping, Web Development, APIs, Databases, Cloud Technologies, Communication Skills, User Empathy, Collaboration, AI/ML Components, User Research, Real-Time Applications, Design Systems, B2B Product Development, B2C Product Development

๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, portfolio, and behavioral fit with the team and company culture.

๐Ÿ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

  • React, Node.js, and Python are the primary tools used for full stack development
  • The team uses modern web development stacks and cloud technologies
  • The team values tools that facilitate rapid prototyping and collaboration

Collaboration & Handoff:

  • The team uses version control systems and collaboration tools to manage code and facilitate communication
  • The team values tools that enable real-time collaboration and feedback

Research & Testing:

  • The team uses user research methods and tools to gather feedback and validate product concepts
  • The team values tools that enable user testing and data analysis
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack for this role are designed to support rapid prototyping, user experience design, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

  • Anthropic values collaboration, communication, and impact-driven research
  • The team values a user-centered approach to design and a focus on creating intuitive user interfaces
  • The team values a results-oriented approach and a bias toward flexibility, impact, and continuous learning
  • The team values a culture of experimentation and a willingness to take risks and learn from failures

Collaboration Style:

  • The team works closely together, with a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration
  • The team values a culture of open feedback and a willingness to learn from one another
  • The team values a culture of experimentation and a willingness to take risks and learn from failures
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: Anthropic's team culture is characterized by collaboration, communication, and a focus on creating intuitive user interfaces that unlock the potential of emerging AI capabilities.

โšก Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

  • Rapidly prototyping full stack applications to demonstrate emerging AI capabilities
  • Creating intuitive user interfaces for complex AI capabilities
  • Gathering feedback from customers and partners to iterate quickly and validate product concepts
  • Integrating prototypes with existing infrastructure and capabilities
  • Advocating for user experience considerations in the research and development process

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Exposure to cutting-edge AI research and its practical applications
  • Opportunities to collaborate with experienced researchers and team members
  • Opportunities to gain mentorship and guidance from experienced team members
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities for this role are designed to push the boundaries of what is possible with emerging AI capabilities and provide opportunities for professional development.

๐Ÿ’ก Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

  • How do you approach rapid prototyping and discarding prototypes based on what you learn?
  • How do you gather feedback and iterate quickly based on user input?
  • How do you advocate for user experience considerations in the research and development process?

Company Culture Questions:

  • How do you collaborate with cross-functional teams, including researchers, designers, and product managers?
  • How do you contribute to a culture of open feedback and a willingness to learn from one another?
  • How do you approach a culture of experimentation and a willingness to take risks and learn from failures?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Highlight case studies that demonstrate your ability to create intuitive user interfaces for complex AI capabilities
  • Demonstrate your ability to gather feedback and iterate quickly based on user input
  • Showcase your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
๐Ÿ“ Enhancement Note: The interview preparation for this role is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, portfolio, and behavioral fit with the team and company culture.

๐Ÿ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

  • Submit your application through this link
  • Prepare a portfolio that showcases your ability to rapidly prototype full stack applications and create intuitive user interfaces for complex AI capabilities
  • Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant skills and experience in full stack development, user experience design, and rapid prototyping
  • Prepare for the technical assessment by brushing up on your skills in React, Node.js, and Python
  • Research Anthropic's mission, values, and culture to ensure a strong fit with the team and company
โš ๏ธ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.