AI Insights
Adobe

Computer Scientist - I

Adobe · San Jose, California, US
full-timemid (5-8 yrs)Posted 28d ago
Software EngineeringIC3ICOn-siteVisa Sponsored
StackPythonREST APIsRedisDockerCI/CDMicroservicesCloud PlatformsObservabilityLoggingDistributed TracingAI/ML IntegrationModel DeploymentWorkflow OrchestrationKubernetes

Summary

Backend Software Engineer role on Adobe's Firefly Engineering team, building scalable cloud services and GenAI APIs that connect AI models to Adobe's flagship creative products.

About the role

The Opportunity

Firefly Engineering is building the next generation of AI-native creative experiences across Adobe. We operate like a fast-moving startup inside Adobe—rapid iterations, bold bets, and obsessively high product quality. Our charter is to bring modern generative AI and advanced language model capabilities directly into the hands of millions of creators.

We are looking for a Software Engineer who can build reliable and highly available back end services. You’ll work across backend, and AI orchestration layers—connecting Firefly and 3rd Party models to empower Adobe's flagship products create seamless, high-impact customer workflows.

What you'll Do

  • Build scalable and reliable cloud services with observability, logging, and tracing to enable quick detection, understanding, and resolution of run-time issues
  • Work collaboratively with a distributed team of engineers and product managers. Build GenAI services and APIs to enable innovative workflows in web, desktop, and mobile apps.
  • Contribute in determining technical requirements and deliver high-quality APIs.
  • Find opportunities for system improvements and successfully implement updates.
  • Ensure all APIs meet strict performance criteria and quality standards.

What you need to succeed

  • B. Tech and/or M. Tech in Computer Science with an excellent academic record, or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in designing and building backend systems.
  • Demonstrated expertise in software development, with strong proficiency in Python.
  • Experience working with cloud platforms and building scalable microservices architectures.
  • Solid understanding of server-side technologies and familiarity with tools and frameworks such as REST APIs, Redis, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Exposure to AI/ML integration, model deployment, or workflow orchestration is a plus.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of growing when working in a fast-paced environment.
  • Self-motivated individual with a passion for learning new technologies and adapting quickly to evolving requirements.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts and decisions.

About Adobe

Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.

Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We’re on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours. 


Let’s Adobe together

At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture, focus on people, purpose and community, Adobe for All, comprehensive benefits programs, the stories we tell, the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.

Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.

Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email [email protected] or call +1 408-536-3015. 

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews:
Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI — and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it’s restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience.

 

What you'll do

1Build scalable and reliable cloud services with observability, logging, and tracing
2Work collaboratively with distributed engineering and product teams
3Build GenAI services and APIs enabling workflows in web, desktop, and mobile apps
4Contribute to determining technical requirements and deliver high-quality APIs
5Identify system improvement opportunities and implement updates
6Ensure APIs meet strict performance criteria and quality standards

Requirements

5+ years designing and building scalable backend systems with strong Python proficiency
Experience building cloud-native microservices with REST APIs and containerization (Docker)
Solid understanding of observability practices — logging, tracing, and runtime monitoring
Ability to define technical requirements and deliver high-quality APIs meeting strict performance and quality standards
Exposure to AI/ML model integration, deployment pipelines, or GenAI workflow orchestration

Nice to have

AI/ML integration
Model deployment
Workflow orchestration
GenAI services
LLM APIs

Role overview

Role family
Software Engineering
Level
IC3 — backend
Experience
5–8 years
Type
Individual Contributor
Remote policy
On-site
Visa sponsorship
Available

Tech stack analysis

LANGUAGES
Python
FRAMEWORKS
REST APIs
DATABASES
Redis
INFRASTRUCTURE
DockerCI/CD pipelinesCloud Platforms (unspecified — likely AWS/Azure/GCP)
TOOLS
Observability toolingLoggingDistributed Tracing

Salary estimate

$140K – $185K
AI-estimated salary range
Confidence78%
Reasoning

Adobe 'Computer Scientist I' with 5+ years in San Jose, CA on a high-profile GenAI team. Based on Adobe's known pay bands, Levels.fyi data, and comparable mid-level backend roles at major tech companies in the Bay Area, total cash compensation typically ranges $140K–$185K base, with additional RSU/equity packages potentially adding $50K–$100K+ annually. The IC level 'I' designation at Adobe typically maps to a mid-level SWE (L4/L5 equivalent).

See the AI-estimated salary range for this role

Sign up free →

Green flags

5 items
Firefly Engineering is Adobe's flagship GenAI team — high visibility and impact, working on products used by millions of creatives globally.growth

Discover all 5 green flags for this role

Sign up free →

Benefits breakdown

HEALTH & WELLNESS
Comprehensive benefits programs (details not specified)

See all benefits organized by category — health, financial, time off & more

Sign up free →

Hiring insights

JD quality
7/10
Urgency
medium
Autonomy
medium
Team size
medium (5-15)

See JD quality score, hiring urgency & team details

Sign up free →

Red flags

PRO4 items
No salary range disclosed in the posting. For a California-based role, this may raise transparency concerns given California's pay transparency laws (though not always enforced uniformly).compensation

See all 4 red flags — what the JD isn't telling you

Sign up free →

Interview insights

PRO
Rounds
5
Duration
4 wks
Difficulty
hard
Take-home
No

Get full interview breakdown — rounds, likely topics & prep tips

Sign up free →

Career path

PRO
Next roles
Senior Software Engineer / Computer Scientist IIStaff Engineer (GenAI Platform)Engineering Tech Lead

See where this role leads — full career progression

Sign up free →
About the company

Adobe is the global leader in creative and digital experience software. Its products — including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat — are used by millions of creatives, marketers, and enterprises. Adobe also powers Experience Cloud, a suite of AI-driven marketing and analytics tools serving Fortune 100 companies.

HQSan Jose, CA, USA
Interview difficultyhard
Build vs Maintainbuild
Cross-functionalYes