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Athena
North America

Junior Software Engineer / Software Engineering

Palo Alto, CA, USA
2026-05-27

Role Description

We are a fast-paced software development startup looking for a hungry, versatile, and tech-savvy **Junior Software Engineer** to join our team. This isn't a role where you’ll be stuck in one corner of a codebase; you will be the "Swiss Army Knife" of our engineering department. You’ll start by tackling a variety of essential tasks that keep our engine running—from automating workflows to managing infrastructure—with the clear path to transition into a core development or DevOps role as you grow with us. **What You’ll Do** * **Automation \& Scripting:** Write and maintain Bash and Python scripts to automate repetitive tasks and internal workflows. * **Infrastructure Support:** Manage and monitor Virtual Machines (VMs) and assist with basic Linux administration. * **Software Lifecycle:** Help with packaging software and ensuring our deployment pipelines are smooth. * **Technical Documentation:** Keep our internal and external docs sharp, clear, and up-to-date. * **Operational Excellence:** Stay on top of Jira tickets and actively participate in Slack discussions to ensure no balls are dropped. * **AI Integration:** Leverage AI productivity tools (LLMs, Copilots, etc.) to accelerate your output and solve problems more efficiently. **What You Bring to the Table** * **Foundational Knowledge:** A solid grasp of Networking fundamentals, Linux utilities, and Cybersecurity best practices. * **The Toolbox:** Familiarity with Python, Bash, and the command line. Exposure to Kubernetes (K8s) is a major plus. * **AI-First Mentality:** You don't just know AI exists; you know how to use it to write better code, debug faster, and automate your day. * **Adaptability:** You’re comfortable jumping between a technical bug fix and a documentation update without losing momentum. * **Communication:** Strong written skills for Slack, Jira, and documentation. **Bonus Points For:** * Previous experience with Docker or container orchestration. * A "no task too small" attitude and a desire to learn how a startup scales. * Contributions to open-source projects or a portfolio of personal scripts/tools. **Standard Startup Perks** * **Growth Path:** Direct mentorship from senior engineers and a clear trajectory for career advancement. * **Flexible Environment:** We value results over "butt-in-seat" time. * **Modern Tech Stack:** Work with the latest tools in cloud computing and AI. * **Impact:** Your work will be visible and impactful from Day 1\.

Junior Software Engineer / Software Engineering

Athena

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