Founding Engineer
*Founding Engineer — AI-Powered Commerce Startup (YC-backed)*
San Francisco, CA · On-site · Full-time · $160,000–$200,000/year
*About the role*
We're hiring on behalf of a fast-moving, YC-backed startup building the future of AI-powered commerce, helping retail brands succeed in the era of AI-driven shopping. They're looking for a Founding Engineer to join as their first engineering hire. You'll have significant ownership over product architecture, full-stack development, and the implementation of cutting-edge AI agent technologies. You'll work directly with customers, turn their feedback into shipped features, and build scalable infrastructure from the ground up.
*What you'll need (critical)*
* 3-7 years of professional software engineering experience
* Experience at a Series A, Series B, or other fast-moving tech company
* Hands-on experience building or working with AI agents / agent-based systems
* Strong full-stack skills in TypeScript, Node.js, Express, React, and Next.js
* Ability to ship features independently across the whole stack
* High agency, strong ownership mentality, comfort with ambiguity
* A genuine startup mindset and willingness to wear multiple hats
*Good to have*
* PostgreSQL, Redis, and asynchronous systems experience
* Browser automation, scraping, or retrieval infrastructure experience
* AI agent orchestration, context management, or evaluations experience
* Experience with production systems, observability, and workflow orchestration
*Bonus points*
* Experience with MCP servers and developer tools
* Background in e-commerce, retail, search, attribution, or analytics
* Degree from a top-50 university
*Benefits*
Competitive salary, unlimited PTO, health insurance, 401(k), and a Bay Club gym membership.
*How to apply*
Send your CV — we'll review it against the role requirements and follow up directly with strong matches.
Pay: $160,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person