Senior tech placements · SF · NY · LA
Your next role, matched to who you are — not just your resume.
Ascend connects exceptional technology professionals with early-stage, well-funded startups. Curated matches, direct access to hiring managers, and an advocate in your corner.
Venture-backed companies in our network
Typical time to employer feedback
Markets: SF, NY, LA
On-site, hybrid, and remote
The market today
Great candidates are drowning in noise.
Top professionals receive dozens of recruiter messages every week, most of them generic and poorly matched. Meanwhile, the best roles at the fastest-growing startups are rarely posted where you'll see them.
We do the opposite.
We work with a small number of candidates at a time. Using our partner platform's data on thousands of open roles and what companies actually hire for, we bring you only the few opportunities where you're a genuine fit — then personally advocate for you.
How it works
A more direct path forward.
Share your background
Send us your resume and tell us what you're looking for: role, location, work style, and compensation.
Receive curated matches
We send a short list of open roles that fit your preferences and where you're a strong match.
Express interest
For roles you like, tell us you're interested and answer a few brief questions from the employer.
Meet the hiring manager
We submit you directly to the decision-maker. You'll typically hear back within 48 hours.
Expertise
Senior talent for consequential roles.
Engineering
Senior and staff engineers, infrastructure, ML/AI engineering
Product
Senior PMs, product leads, and product operations
AI Deployment & Solutions
Deployment strategists, forward-deployed, and solutions roles
Go-to-Market
Sales, partnerships, and customer success leadership
Legal
In-house counsel, commercial, and technology transactions
Operations & Strategy
Bizops, strategy, and chief-of-staff roles
Open roles
A sample of what we're hiring for.
A live snapshot of senior roles across our partner companies. Company names stay confidential until there's mutual interest — if something fits, start a conversation below.
Forward Deployed Engineer
On-site$170K - $250K · 4+ years
- Location
- New York
- Hiring
- 3 - 4 hires
- Role type
- Backend Engineer, Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions & Support Engineer
- Industry
- Healthcare, Insurance, B2B, Enterprise
Staff/Principal Software Engineer
Hybrid$217K - $410K · 8 - 15 years
- Location
- San Francisco
- Hiring
- 2 hires
- Role type
- Backend Engineer
- Industry
- Software Development, AI, B2B, Marketing
Senior Software Engineer (Full-Stack)
Hybrid$190K - $230K · 5 - 10 years
- Location
- San Francisco
- Hiring
- 10 hires
- Role type
- Full Stack Engineer, Backend Engineer
- Industry
- Healthcare, AI
Design Engineer
On-site$170K - $230K · 1+ years
- Location
- San Francisco
- Hiring
- 1 hire
- Role type
- Frontend Engineer, Product Design & UI/UX
- Industry
- AI, Software Development
Senior Software Engineer
On-site$170K - $240K · 2+ years
- Location
- New York
- Hiring
- 3 hires
- Role type
- Backend Engineer, Data Engineer
- Industry
- Software Development, Law, AI, B2B, Data
VP of Engineering
Hybrid$240K - $280K · 10+ years
- Location
- New York
- Hiring
- 1 hire
- Role type
- Engineering Leadership, Full Stack Engineer, Product Engineer, Product Management
- Industry
- Healthcare, AI, Marketplace, Insurance, Consumer
Senior Fullstack Engineer
Hybrid$200K - $240K · 8 - 10 years
- Location
- San Francisco
- Hiring
- 1 hire
- Role type
- Full Stack Engineer
- Industry
- AI, Software Development, Transportation, B2B, Logistics, Enterprise
Full Stack Super SWE
Remote$200K - $275K · 3 - 10 years
- Location
- Canada, San Francisco
- Hiring
- 1 hire
- Role type
- Full Stack Engineer
- Industry
- AI, Software Development
Senior Systems Engineer
On-site$200K - $300K · 5+ years
- Location
- New York
- Hiring
- 1 - 5 hires
- Role type
- Backend Engineer
- Industry
- Software Development, Devtools, AI
Where we place
Built for the startup hubs.
We partner with early-stage, well-funded companies across the three major U.S. startup markets, with on-site, hybrid, and remote roles available.
San Francisco
Los Angeles
New York
Why Ascend
A partner in your corner.
Signal over noise
No mass outreach. Every role we send is chosen for you.
Direct access
Your profile goes straight to the hiring manager, not a black-box applicant portal.
A true advocate
We prepare you, position your strengths, and work through requirements with the employer on your behalf.
Let's find your next move.
Share a few details and we'll be in touch within one business day.