get hired at
Photon
Infrastructure for AI agents that live in iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS
- —
- GRAACLVER+5
- San Francisco
- AI
Open roles at Photon
3 positions we're tracking, re-checked daily
- apply ↗
Founding Backend Engineer (messaging adapter layer / agent runtime)
san francisco, usaMid-levelfirst seen today - apply ↗
Developer Relations / DX Engineer
san francisco, usaMid-levelfirst seen today - apply ↗
Solutions Engineer (regulated industries: fintech, healthcare)
san francisco, usaMid-levelfirst seen today
Know when Photon is hiring before anyone else
A role stays uncontested for about four days. Here's the window, and where we put you in it.
From $5.99/week, cancel any time.
- live
- +2h+2hrole spotted & verified1
- +4h+4hyou get the alert1
- day 3day 3you've applied~8
- day 7+day 7+hits the job boards250+
What Photon is building
Photon's thesis is that agents belong where people already talk, not in another app. Its core product is Spectrum, an open-source SDK plus managed cloud that lets a developer write one agent server and connect it to iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS/RCS, Discord, Slack, Instagram, email and voice. Each provider adapter handles the platform-specific work while the agent logic stays the same. The primitives are concrete: typed message handlers (text, attachments, reactions), automatic channel selection with fallback routing, rich media (polls, stickers, markdown), group-chat and profile management, and since June 2026 iMessage mini-app APIs so an agent can send buttons, forms and live interfaces inside a thread. Around that sit a CLI, an observability suite, audit logs and human-in-the-loop controls. The open-source version still accounts for 98% of use. In April the founders launched a hosted tier with 99.95% uptime, SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliance, which opens healthcare and fintech use cases. Customers include Rho, Corgi Insurance, Boardy, Ditto and Slashy. Photon is the official iMessage adapter for Vercel's Chat SDK and the default iMessage layer for Nous Research's Hermes agent.
Why this matters
Distribution is the unsolved problem for consumer agents: nobody wants to install another app, and every agent startup is rediscovering that the messaging thread is the interface. TechCrunch notes Meta's Muse hit No. 1 in the app stores on the same thesis. Photon is betting that even if a few giants own consumer AI, thousands of developers will want their own agents reachable over iMessage, and that the hard parts (Apple's platform, compliance, reliability) are worth paying for. The traction supports it: 40,000+ developer sign-ups, 10x revenue growth in four months, under 3% churn and 5x message-volume growth in the most recent month. The open question is platform risk, since Apple controls iMessage.
Investors: Gradient, A* (co-leads), Vercel, HongShan (HSG), Z Fellows, Llama Ventures, Karman Ventures, Angels
Hiring outlook
Implied rather than explicit. The round funds iMessage business messaging for regulated industries, SDK development and design-partner onboarding, all of which need engineers and a customer-facing hire. Photon has no careers page on its site, and the one founding backend engineer listing found on LinkedIn has expired.
Working at Photon
Photon is a AI company based in San Francisco, USA. Working at a AI company at this stage means opportunity to shape your role based on the company stage.
San Francisco, USA is where most Photon positions are located.
How to actually get hired at Photon
Why applying the normal way doesn't work
There's an ATS, but at Photon, referrals get priority. Your cold application competes with sourced candidates and internal recommendations.
Who to contact at Photon
- Who decides
- the hiring manager
- Best channel
- LinkedIn or direct email
What to show them
Ship a merged PR or a well-documented issue on github.com/photon-hq/spectrum-ts, for example a new provider adapter, a fallback-routing edge case, or a reproducible delivery bug in group chats. Pair it with a small working agent built on Spectrum that uses iMessage mini-apps.
A cold email that works at Photon
What Photon screens for
Gradient and A* co-leading, with Vercel investing as a strategic partner, means the round is a distribution bet: Photon is already wired into Vercel's Chat SDK, LangChain, Mastra and Nous Research's Hermes. HongShan's participation points at the Asia angle, since Photon also sits under Tencent's QClaw. A small seed round with this much developer pull means a tiny team is carrying a lot of infrastructure, so the first few engineers will own whole surfaces like the iMessage adapter or the observability suite. Being a visible open-source contributor is the most direct way in.
A tailored CV beats a generic one. Use Photon's job description language to clear filters.
Don't make these mistakes
Daniel and Ryan built this from hackathon projects. Daniel dropped out of Penn's M&T program and Ryan left high school, so credentials-first emails will land flat. Don't pitch 'agents will replace apps' back to them either: they literally held a funeral for apps. Lead with something you shipped on Spectrum, or a real failure you hit getting an agent onto iMessage.
Mistakes that kill Photon applications
Generic CVs stand out at a -person company — and not in a good way. Fastest path to rejection.
Don't open with what you want. Open with what Photon is dealing with right now — Distribution is the unsolved problem for consumer agents: nobody wants to install another app, and every agent startup is rediscovering that the messaging thread is the interface, and what you'd do about it.
Most AI applications get ghosted. A day-five follow-up can double your response rate.
Applying to Photon? Get the contact, not the form.
The Photon interview process
We don't yet have verified candidate reports for Photon. What follows is the typical process for a -person AI company, so treat it as a model, not confirmed detail.
Interview stages
- 1
Recruiter Screen
Phone or video · 30 min
What it testsBasic qualification and logisticsUsually run byRecruiter or HR - 2
Hiring Manager Interview
Video call · 45 min
What it testsRole fit and experience deep-diveUsually run byHiring manager - 3
Technical/Functional Round
Video call · 60 min
What it testsSkills assessment and problem-solvingUsually run byTeam members - 4
Final Round
In-person or video · 60 min
What it testsCulture fit and cross-functional alignmentUsually run bySenior leadership
Photon take-home assignment
Photon includes a take-home exercise in their interview process. For AI roles, this typically involves a practical problem that takes 2-4 hours. Focus on clean, working code over premature optimization. They're evaluating how you think and communicate, not just the solution.
Photon interview timeline
Expect 14 days total. Compared to similar AI companies (14 days median), Photon is about average.
Interviewed at Photon?
Tell us how it went: stages, questions, timeline. Takes 90 seconds and it's how this page stays accurate for the next person.
Photon jobs, frequently asked questions
How many jobs does Photon have open?
As of October 4, 2026, Photon has 3 open positions.
Does Photon hire remotely?
Currently, Photon only has in-office roles in San Francisco, USA.
What roles is Photon hiring for?
Photon is hiring across Engineering. The most recent opening is Founding Backend Engineer (messaging adapter layer / agent runtime).
How do I apply for a job at Photon?
Apply via the links above. For tips, read our guide on how to get hired at Photon.
Does Photon respond to cold emails?
Not enough data yet on Photon's cold email response rates.
Who is the hiring manager at Photon?
At this size, hiring is usually run by the hiring manager.
How competitive is it to get hired at Photon?
Expect 100-250 applicants in the first two weeks for AI roles at this size. Apply within 72 hours for best odds.
How many rounds is the Photon interview?
4 stages: Recruiter Screen, Hiring Manager Interview, Technical/Functional Round, Final Round.
Is the Photon interview hard?
Expect technical depth and system design, not algorithm trivia. Candidates report Technical Interview as the toughest stage.
Does Photon give a take-home task?
Yes, Photon includes a take-home assignment.
How long does Photon take to get back to you?
Around 14 days across the full process.
What should I prepare for the Photon interview?
Focus on technical depth and system design. At people, they're testing whether you can operate without process, not whether you memorised algorithms.
Where is Photon based?
Photon is headquartered in San Francisco, USA.
Get Photon roles before they're posted
A role stays uncontested for about four days. Here's the window, and where we put you in it.
From $5.99/week, cancel any time.
- live
- +2h+2hrole spotted & verified1
- +4h+4hyou get the alert1
- day 3day 3you've applied~8
- day 7+day 7+hits the job boards250+
Related
More AI companies hiring
Other startups we track in the same space.