Speechify is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead the design, architecture, and development of native Windows desktop applications. This onsite role in Bakersfield, CA emphasizes accessibility, cross-team collaboration, and shaping the Windows platform roadmap.
Location and Compensation
Location: Bakersfield, CA (onsite)
Salary: USD 140,000 - 200,000 per year
Responsibilities
- Oversee end-to-end design, architecture, and implementation of native Windows desktop applications using Windows App SDK, WinUI or equivalent UI frameworks, primarily with C# and XAML; when needed, include C++.
- Establish and enforce Windows desktop development standards across the codebase, covering architecture, performance, memory management, responsive UI, cross-version compatibility (Windows 10/11+), and maintainability.
- Advance accessibility efforts by integrating and validating support for accessibility APIs such as Microsoft UI Automation, ensuring UI controls, focus management, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and usability for users with disabilities.
- Collaborate with product designers, UX researchers, QA, and other stakeholders to plan features, shape UI/UX architecture, and define the long-term Windows platform roadmap.
- Own the full lifecycle of features from concept through design, implementation, testing, release, and maintenance, ensuring quality and consistency across releases.
- Identify and resolve complex bugs, performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, rendering issues, or compatibility problems, and propose robust architectural or design solutions.
Requirements
- Minimum of three years of experience developing Windows desktop applications with Windows App SDK and WinUI or equivalent, primarily using C# and XAML; ideally additional experience with native Windows code (C++, Win32/WinRT/COM).
- Strong understanding of Windows application architecture, including interop between managed (.NET) and native code.
- Proven track record delivering production-quality desktop software with emphasis on reliability, performance, scalability, and maintainability.
- Extensive experience with Windows accessibility APIs (such as Microsoft UI Automation) and a commitment to accessible software.
- Solid software engineering fundamentals: object oriented programming, design patterns, data structures, algorithms, memory management, and asynchronous or multi-threaded programming where applicable.
- Experience leading technical design, mentoring engineers, conducting code reviews, and making architecture-level decisions.
- Strong communication skills to articulate tradeoffs, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive consensus.
- User-centric mindset focused on delivering polished, intuitive, and accessible experiences for end users.
Technologies
- Windows App SDK
- WinUI
- C#
- XAML
- C++ and native Windows interfaces (Win32/WinRT/COM)
- .NET
- Microsoft UI Automation
Benefits
- Influence architecture and shape the Windows product experience seen by millions of users.
- Collaborative, flat engineering culture where you contribute beyond coding to decisions.
- Opportunities to lead, mentor, and steer technical direction, with potential for roles such as Tech Lead or Architect.
- Autonomy with ownership: define problem-solving approaches, own features end-to-end, and contribute to the long-term product roadmap.
- Mission-driven work delivering reliable, accessible software that centers on users.
Mission
Speechify aims to ensure that reading never becomes a barrier to learning. The company serves more than 50 million people who use its text-to-speech tools to convert what they read—PDFs, books, Google Docs, news articles, websites—into audio, enabling faster reading, deeper engagement, and improved retention. Its TTS products span iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome extension, and Web apps. Google recently named Speechify Chrome Extension of the Year, and Apple awarded Speechify the 2025 Design Award for Inclusivity.
Speechify operates with a globally distributed workforce of nearly 200 people and maintains no physical office. The team comprises frontend and backend engineers, AI research scientists, and other professionals drawn from organizations such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, including alumni of Stanford, Stripe, Vercel, Bolt, and founders of their own ventures.
