Senior Software Engineer

Company Overview

Narrative is among New Zealand's rapidly expanding SaaS firms, specializing in AI-enhanced tools that streamline workflows for millions of professional photographers worldwide. Our products help users from over 160 countries speed up photo selection and editing significantly. Supported by leading venture capitalists including Founders Fund, we prioritize innovation and excellence in our niche.

Work Environment and Benefits

We value diversity and inclusivity, striving for a team that mirrors the global spectrum of photographers we serve. Employees enjoy flexible remote options, including up to three days remote work weekly, with our Auckland office based on Karangahape Road. Additional perks include one month of paid parental leave beyond statutory requirements, up to six months at 30 hours per week full pay post-parental leave, extended sick leave provisions, competitive salaries with biannual reviews, and participation in an attractive employee share option program.

Technology and Data Stack

Our frontend development challenges traditional web app norms, combining React, TypeScript, and NodeJS to build our Electron application interfacing closely with operating systems. We utilize Canvas2D for image processing and employ Maxwell, a Rust-based high-performance daemon for complex image processing and machine learning tasks, functioning in multi-process environments including NodeJS processes and web workers. Our team focuses heavily on performance, seeking continual improvements and optimization.

Role and Responsibilities

• Create refined user interfaces and ensure smooth user experiences.
• Collaborate within the team to devise innovative solutions to complex technical problems.
• Maximize performance across web technologies and experiment with enhanced image decoding and processing techniques.
• Provide mentorship through code reviews, knowledge dissemination, and champion best practices in product development.
• Define and refine requirements and APIs for new product features.
• Contribute to and evolve testing strategies to ensure product robustness.
• Enhance CI/CD systems to streamline deployment and testing workflows.
• Work closely with product teams to deeply understand user needs and effectively prioritize feature delivery.
• Lead the definition of detailed product development guidelines and standards drawing from industry best practices.
• Integrate AI coding agents into daily workflows for prototyping, testing, refactoring, and code review, and establish standards for their use.
• Develop frontend solutions for AI-driven and agent-powered features, ensuring clarity, control, and trustworthiness in the user interface.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive professional experience (5+ years) in frontend development, writing elegant and thoroughly tested code.
• Flexibility to work across various technology stacks and eagerness to continuously learn and tackle diverse challenges.
• Proficiency with modern frontend technologies including TypeScript, React, RTK Query, Node, Redux, and Tailwind CSS.
• Strong mentorship skills fostering confidence and growth among team members.
• Experienced with AI coding agents in professional environments, knowing how to utilize and critically evaluate their output.
• Competence in automated testing frameworks such as Jest, React Testing Library, and Playwright.
• Advanced debugging abilities utilizing developer tools tailored to frontend ecosystems.
• Excellent communication skills adaptable to multiple technical audiences.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Electron application development.
• Experience managing CI pipelines, for example using GitHub Actions.
• Knowledge of React meta-frameworks like Next.js.
• Expertise in building agentic workflows, MCP servers, custom AI agents, and AI-assisted CI processes.
• Design experience for AI interfaces including features like streaming, uncertainty handling, user override, and undo functionality.
• Handling image or binary data in web-based platforms.
• Personal interest in photography or the creative arts is a plus.

Inclusion Statement

Narrative is dedicated to creating an AI-driven software environment that serves all users and promotes team diversity. We encourage candidates excited by this opportunity to apply even if they do not meet every listed criterion, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and experiences.