Senior Software Engineer, Agents

About LiveKit

At LiveKit, we build open-source APIs to power the future of computing. We are a company of engineers building software stacks for other engineers, with a focus on real-time communication and AI-driven applications.

The Role

We're seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to help design and build the Agents framework—an open-source platform that enables developers to build AI-driven server applications that can see, hear, and speak in real time. In this role, you'll own the design and implementation of core Python framework components that developers rely on to build cutting-edge AI agents.

You'll be responsible for designing intuitive APIs, defining abstractions that shape how engineers interact with the system, and ensuring features integrate seamlessly across our broader ecosystem. This is ideal for someone who thrives on framework design, open-source development, and building tools that other engineers love to use.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement core components of the Agents Python framework
• Define APIs and abstractions that developers rely on for building AI agents
• Own features end-to-end, from design through implementation and deployment
• Identify simple, elegant solutions to complex architectural design problems
• Propose and defend architectural decisions that shape the framework's direction
• Ensure new features integrate cleanly with the broader ecosystem
• Collaborate with engineers across Python, Node.js, and Rust systems
• Contribute to open-source development and community engagement

Who You Are

• Strong, proven experience building production systems in Python
• Excellent API design instincts with strong engineering taste and judgment
• Demonstrated ability to independently drive projects from idea to completion
• Solid experience building SDKs, frameworks, or developer tools that other engineers use
• Comfortable navigating complex systems and making thoughtful design tradeoffs
• Able to clearly communicate technical concepts and defend technical opinions thoughtfully
• Passionate about learning new systems, tools, and technologies
• Track record of obsessing over clean design, durability, and practical solutions

Ideal Candidate Profile

You'll thrive at LiveKit if you obsess over crafting APIs and abstractions that are simple, durable, and practical. You care deeply about developer experience, are known as the person who can untangle hard architectural problems, and can move quickly from idea to design to implementation. You enjoy forming strong technical opinions and defending them thoughtfully.

Bonus: The best way to impress us is with thoughtful Issues or PRs on our GitHub repos.

💰 Compensation not publicly listed. Market estimate for similar roles: from $120K, varying by experience and location.