Company

Technology

FoundingEngineer

$175–225k San Francisco, California, United States FULL TIME
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Mid+ candidates.

The Brief

“Founding Engineer. Skills: AI, Software development, System design. Build across full application. Collaborate with founder”

What You'll Achieve.

Ensure real user value; Ensure quality

Industry & Context.

Technology
Problems you'll solve

Troubleshooting

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Computer Science degree, 2–7 years software engineering experience, CS fundamentals, Technically complex side projects, High energy, Entrepreneurial spirit, Proficiency in Python, Typed scientific Python

Nice to Have

Startup experience valued, Fast-moving environment experience valued, Experience with real-time media, Vision/video model training, Vision/video model deployment, Memory systems experience, Audio synthesis experience, Agentic coding familiarity, AI-assisted development workflows familiarity

What You'll Do.

Build across full application

Collaborate with founder

Collaborate with design team

Collaborate with engineers

Design systems for memory

Implement systems for memory

Design systems for retrieval

Implement systems for retrieval

Design systems for proactivity

Implement systems for proactivity

Design systems for AI responsiveness

Implement systems for AI responsiveness

Integrate real-time video generation models

Integrate audio synthesis models

Set bar for engineering quality

Recruit world-class talent

Use product extensively

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Founding team; Design team; Other engineers

Full Job Description

ABOUT THE ROLE Join an early-stage consumer AI startup as a Founding Engineer — a rare 1-of-1 role working directly alongside the founding team to shape both the product and engineering culture. This company is building a real-time AI-enabled platform designed to digitize human connection, making AI interactions feel genuinely present and personal. You'll help lay the technical foundation from the ground up in a fast-moving, high-ambition environment. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Build across the full application, collaborating closely with the founder, design team, and other engineers. - Design and implement systems for memory, retrieval, proactivity, and AI responsiveness. - Integrate real-time video generation and audio synthesis models — both internal and third-party. - Set the bar for engineering quality and play an active role in recruiting world-class talent. - Extensively use the product yourself to ensure real user value and quality. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Required: Computer Science degree from a top university. - Required: 2–7 years of professional software engineering experience (not a new grad). - Required: Strong CS fundamentals and a track record of technically complex side projects. - Required: High energy, entrepreneurial spirit — prior startup or fast-moving environment experience strongly valued. - Required: Proficiency in Python, including typed scientific Python. - Bonus: Experience with real-time media, vision/video model training or deployment, memory systems, or audio synthesis. - Bonus: Familiarity with agentic coding or AI-assisted development workflows. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Salary: $175,000 – $225,000 USD annually - Visa sponsorship available LOCATION This role is fully on-site in San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be willing and able to work in-person full-time.

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