Founding Engineer

Founding EngineerSan Francisco, CA (Hybrid)Full-timeAbout Our ClientOur client is a highly prestigious, well-funded AI startup built by proven operators with a track record of scaling complex systems and real businesses. The company is attacking problems most organizations avoid—because they are hard, ambiguous, and consequential.This is not incremental software. This is foundational work.Backed by top-tier venture capital and operating in stealth, the company is assembling a small, elite founding team to build systems that replace slow, manual, human-heavy processes with intelligent, autonomous software that operates continuously at enterprise scale.The ambition is simple and uncompromising: build software that materially changes how large organizations operate.The RoleThis is a Founding Engineer role in the truest sense.You will help design and build the company’s core intelligence platform from zero to production. You will make architectural decisions that matter. You will write software that ships. You will shape how engineering is done here.If you are looking for comfort, stability, or clearly defined problems—this role is not for you.If you want ownership, leverage, and the chance to work on systems that actually matter—keep reading.Early hires directly unlock customer deployments and revenue.What You’ll DoDesign and build core systems end-to-end:Data ingestion and pipelinesModel orchestration and feedback loopsAPIs, services, and internal toolingUI and workflow integrations where neededOwn architectural decisions across the stack (TypeScript, Python, Go)Build systems that are scalable, durable, and evolvable—not demosWork closely with leadership to define product direction and technical trade-offsSet the technical and cultural bar for engineering as the company scalesEngage with early customers when useful to deeply understand real problemsWho You Are5–15 years of professional experience, with 5+ years in an engineering roleOperated at senior scope in demanding environmentsHeld a senior title at a company with a real hiring bar (e.g., FAANG, Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent)Experienced across multiple parts of the stackComfortable operating without a playbookCalm under ambiguity, decisive under pressureLow ego, high standards, strong sense of ownershipTechnical ExpectationsDeep strength in at least one of:Distributed systemsData engineering / data pipelinesAI / ML systemsStrong working fluency in modern stacks:TypeScriptPythonGoPostgresReact or similar frontend frameworksAble to critically evaluate, guide, and improve AI-assisted code generationYou care about correctness, performance, and long-term maintainabilityEducation (Signal, Not a Gate)Background from a top Computer Science program is a plus(e.g., MIT, Stanford, CMU, UC Berkeley, Caltech, Harvard, University of Washington, Georgia Tech, Cornell)Exceptional engineers without this background are absolutely encouraged to applyThis Role Is Not for You IfYou optimize for titles over impactYou need constant structure and directionYou bring ego instead of curiosityYou avoid ownership or accountabilityYou have a pattern of short stints without clear reasoningCompensationBase Salary: $160,000 – $220,000 (flexible for exceptional candidates)Equity: Competitive founding-level ownershipRapid growth in scope and compensation as the company scales and deliversWork ModelHybrid role based in San FranciscoExpectation of 3 days per week in-officeFully remote may be considered only to secure truly exceptional talent and would require a deliberate shift to a fully remote cultureVisa SponsorshipVisa sponsorship available on a case-by-case basisThe company has deep experience supporting employment-based visasStrong commitment to ensuring sponsored candidates are never placed in risky situationsSupport may include H1B → O1 transitions or facilitated portfolio transfersHiring PlanHiring 2–5 founding engineersThe bar is intentionally highQuality and ownership matter more than speedInterview ProcessA rigorous but respectful 4-step process:Initial screenTechnical interview(s)System design and coding evaluationFinal culture and values interviewTopTech Talent is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.🚫 Third-party recruiters, please do not reach out for this role.