Staff Software Engineer - Search & Discovery at Quizlet

San Francisco, California, United States

Quizlet Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
EdTech, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

  • 8+ years of experience in software engineering, with a track record of delivering reliable and scalable systems
  • Deep expertise in distributed systems and data-intensive architectures, with strong fundamentals in system design, performance optimization, and debugging at scale
  • Proficiency in modern backend languages (e.g., Go, PHP, Python) and experience building robust APIs and server-side logic
  • Strong knowledge of relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and experience with schema design, indexing, and query performance tuning
  • Interest and experience in search infrastructure, excited to design, scale, and operate systems that power search and discovery for millions of users
  • Expertise (or eager to build) in technologies such as Elasticsearch, Solr/OpenSearch, and understanding of concepts like indexing strategies and query optimization

Responsibilities

  • Drive the evolution of systems by identifying areas for improvement, setting technical direction, and leading architectural decisions to align with business objectives
  • Work closely with engineering, product, and infrastructure teams to build robust, scalable applications
  • Act as a technical mentor by guiding engineers in system design, best practices, and career growth, while fostering a culture of collaboration and learning
  • Lead by example in writing clean, efficient, and well-documented code
  • Shape the strategy for search infrastructure, driving innovations in indexing, query performance, and scalability to support business needs
  • Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions, tech talks, and code reviews to elevate engineering excellence

Skills

Software Engineering
Reliability Engineering
Performance Optimization
Scalability
AI
Machine Learning
Search Systems
Recommendations
Distributed Systems

Quizlet

Develops educational tools for students and teachers

About Quizlet

Quizlet develops educational tools designed to inspire and empower students and teachers. It serves over 60 million active users each month and is recognized as one of the top education apps available on iOS and Android. Quizlet's products include various learning tools that help users study and retain information effectively. The platform offers both free and premium subscription services, allowing users to access additional features and resources. Unlike many competitors, Quizlet has a large user base and a strong presence in the education technology market, which enhances its community and resource sharing. The company's goal is to create a significant global impact in education by providing accessible and effective learning solutions.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2005Year Founded
$60.3MTotal Funding
SERIES_CCompany Stage
Consumer Software, EducationIndustries
501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Shared financial success: Competitive salaries, stock options and a 401k that makes saving for retirement easy.
Competitive healthcare: Comprehensive health, dental, vision and disability plans for you and your family.
PTO and family benefits: Everyone gets four weeks of PTO. Our generous family leave plan has you covered when you welcome a new, little learner into your family.
Professional development: Learning never stops. Get reimbursed each year for professional development, and learn from the best with regular tech talks.
A welcoming workplace: Enjoy free lunch and dinner with great company. Benefit from adjustable desks and employee lounges while taking in amazing views of the Bay.
Commuter benefits: We don’t have a school bus, but we'll help cover your public transportation and parking. If you decide to work late, your ride home is on us as well.

Risks

Increased competition from AI-driven platforms like Khan Academy and Duolingo.
Recent U.S. outage may decrease user trust and retention.
New CEO's strategic shifts could disrupt operations or alienate existing users.

Differentiation

Quizlet offers AI-powered features like Magic Notes and Memory Score for personalized learning.
The platform's gamification strategy includes features like Quizlet Challenge and Quizlet Learn.
Quizlet's Q-Chat beta feature aligns with the trend of conversational AI in education.

Upsides

Quizlet's new CEO, Beidler, may drive fresh strategic direction and innovation.
Intentional slowing of AI adoption focuses on quality, ensuring sustainable long-term growth.
AI-powered features enhance user engagement, potentially increasing retention and user base.

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