The Role
Develop and extend a compiler frontend that transpiles UniBasic into Java. Responsibilities include implementing parsers, ASTs, semantic-analysis passes, parameter and type inference, AST transformations, Java emission support, comprehensive tests, and root-cause debugging across the transpilation pipeline. The role also contributes to architecture discussions and handles legacy-language parsing edge cases.
Summary Generated by Built In
Compiler / Transpiler Engineer (Mid-Level)
Team: Language Tools / Legacy Modernization About the project We are building a transpiler that converts UniBasic (a legacy BASIC dialect) into Java. The codebase we are modernizing is large: on the order of 14,000 source programs: so the transpiler is not a one-off script but a real compiler frontend:
What you will do • Implement and extend parsers for UniBasic statements and expressions (control flow, file/OS I/O, dynamic-array and multivalue operations, CALL dispatch), each producing well-defined AST nodes. • Build and refine semantic-analysis passes: name resolution, parameter-direction inference (input / output / in-out), and type binding/propagation across call sites. • Implement AST-to-AST transformations that lower UniBasic constructs to a Java AST, and help keep the emitter a pure printer. • Handle the hard, real-world edge cases legacy code is full of: ambiguous syntax, context sensitive tokenization, inconsistent formatting, and dialect quirks. • Write thorough tests for every parser, pass, and transformation: including golden-file tests that transpile real UniBasic and compile the generated Java. • Diagnose failures across the whole chain (a wrong .java output traced back to a lexer, parser, or transformer bug) and fix the root cause. • Contribute to design discussions on pipeline architecture, AST shape, and how new language features flow from parse → SEMA → transform → emit.
Must-have qualifications Compiler / language-tool fundamentals • 3–5yearsofsoftware engineering experience, including hands-on work on a compiler, tran spiler, interpreter, static analyzer, linter, or similar language tooling. • Solid working knowledge of the frontend pipeline: lexing/tokenization, parsing (recursive descent / Pratt / precedence handling), AST design, and at least one of semantic analysis or code generation. • Comfortable reasoning about grammars, precedence/associativity, and context sensitive parsing: and about why a construct produces the AST node it does.
Engineering craft • Strong Java (Java 17+) and comfort with a typed, Object-oriented codebase. • Disciplined about testing: you write tests for the code you change and treat a failing corpus file as a bug to root-cause, not skip. • Practical experience with refactoring and clean-code. 1 • Clear written communication; able to justify a parsing/lowering decision and document edge cases
Skills Required
- 3-5 years of software engineering experience, including hands-on work with a compiler, transpiler, interpreter, static analyzer, linter, or similar language tooling
- Working knowledge of lexing or tokenization, parsing, AST design, and semantic analysis or code generation
- Understanding of grammars, precedence, associativity, and context-sensitive parsing
- Strong Java 17+ programming skills and comfort with typed, object-oriented codebases
- Experience writing comprehensive tests and diagnosing failures to their root cause
- Practical experience with refactoring and clean code
- Clear written communication and ability to document technical decisions and edge cases
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The Company
What We Do
Caizin, headquartered in Pune, India, with offices in Atlanta, GA, is a software product development company specializing in bringing SaaS product ideas from concept to customers. From products in the Manufacturing domain, Caizin has now taken 3 SaaS products to the Indian, the US, and Europe markets. Leadership in product management, design, and technology, backed by successful entrepreneurial journies and subsequent exits of our leaders, puts us in a unique situation to help product ideas reach the intended customers better and faster
