Software Engineer, Inference

OverviewPulse is tackling one of the most persistent challenges in data infrastructure: extracting accurate, structured information from complex documents at scale. We have a breakthrough approach to document understanding that combines intelligent schema mapping with fine-tuned extraction models where legacy OCR and other parsing tools consistently fail.We are a small, fast-growing team of engineers in San Francisco powering Fortune 100 enterprises, YC startups, public investment firms, and growth-stage companies. We are backed by tier 1 investors and growing quickly.What makes our tech special is our multi-stage architecture:Layout understanding with specialized component detection modelsLow-latency OCR models for targeted extractionAdvanced reading-order algorithms for complex structuresProprietary table structure recognition and parsingFine-tuned vision-language models for charts, tables, and figuresIf you are passionate about the intersection of computer vision, NLP, and data infrastructure, your work at Pulse will directly impact customers and shape the future of document intelligence.What we are looking for5 days in-office at our San Francisco officeEager to learn and adapt quicklyPrior startup or founding experience is a plusWhat we are looking for5 days in-office at our San Francisco officeEager to learn and adapt quicklyPrior startup or founding experience is a plusAbout the RoleSpecialize in low-latency, high-throughput inference for OCR and multimodal models. Own profiling, batching, and autoscaling across single-tenant and multi-tenant environments.ResponsibilitiesBuild inference services with smart batching and cachingOptimize kernels, tokenization, and model graphsEvaluate vLLM, TensorRT LLM, and Triton tradeoffsImplement autoscaling and admission control with clear SLOsOwn performance dashboards and capacity planningRequirements3+ years in performance engineering or ML systemsStrong Python, plus C++ or CUDA exposureExperience with GPU profiling and model servingNice to haveExperience reducing p95 and cost in production ML systemsSponsorshipSponsorship available.Compensation and benefitsCompetitive base salary plus equity, performance-based bonus, relocation assistance for Bay Area moves, daily meal stipend, medical, vision, and dental coverage.