Hybrid opportunity at
GustoSenior Staff Software Engineer, Onboarding and Activation
Gusto operates a platform serving more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide by handling payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR administration. The company seeks a Senior Staff…
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About This Role
Gusto operates a platform serving more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide by handling payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR administration. The company seeks a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join its Growth Onboarding team in San Francisco on a hybrid schedule. This full-time position centers on shaping the pivotal journey from initial signup to active customer status. In this capacity, the engineer will tackle zero-to-one challenges, crafting innovative onboarding pathways…
Job Description
Gusto operates a platform serving more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide by handling payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR administration. The company seeks a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join its Growth Onboarding team in San Francisco on a hybrid schedule. This full-time position centers on shaping the pivotal journey from initial signup to active customer status.
In this capacity, the engineer will tackle zero-to-one challenges, crafting innovative onboarding pathways across web, SMS, WhatsApp, and third-party AI assistants. The role suits an experienced product-minded builder who enjoys operating with high autonomy, partnering closely with design, product, and data functions, and leveraging artificial intelligence to eliminate friction for new users.
Gusto integrates AI across daily operations and expects team members to utilize relevant technological tools. The position offers an opportunity to directly influence top-line activation metrics while designing modular, scalable entry points for the platform.
Responsibilities
- Manage the complete signup-to-activation user journey, spanning data models through user interfaces
- Develop early-stage prototypes and innovative onboarding flows utilizing artificial intelligence
- Collaborate directly with product management, design, and data teams to frame problems and validate hypotheses with real users
- Determine where AI effectively minimizes user effort compared to traditional form fields
- Construct modular and reusable architectural components to support rapid deployment of new platform entry points
- Elevate internal engineering standards via pragmatic technical direction, code reviews, and mentorship
- Execute rapid scoping decisions under time constraints to deliver functional experimental iterations
Requirements
- Accumulate over 10 years of software engineering experience encompassing large-scale, customer-facing products
- Demonstrate strong full-stack capabilities across front-end, back-end, and data domains
- Apply AI and LLM capabilities directly to practical product use cases with sound technical judgment
- Commute to the San Francisco office for designated hybrid days approximately two to three times per week
Core Skills
Benefits
- Competitive base salary targeted between $223,000 and $278,000 per year for San Francisco
- Stock equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units
- Comprehensive benefits package provided to all full-time personnel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Senior Staff Software Engineer role in San Francisco?
The cash compensation for this position is targeted between $223,000 and $278,000 per year, accompanied by stock equity.
Is this position remote or on-site?
This is a hybrid position based out of the San Francisco office, where employees are expected to work on-site approximately two to three days per week.
What level of experience is required for this job?
Candidates must have 10 or more years of software engineering experience, including a history of building and shipping customer-facing products at scale.
Sample Interview Questions
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