Founding Software Engineer

About the company

Our client is an early-stage software company.

The role

Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Take full ownership of core parts of a new software platform, moving across server-side and user-facing work as needed. Ship production code quickly while working side by side with company leadership.

What you'll do

• Own platform modules from architecture decisions through production deployment.
• Build and iterate on core components such as data pipelines, computation layers, orchestration logic and user-facing surfaces.
• Ship production code quickly while balancing technical depth with product judgment.
• Spot gaps in the system independently and propose and deliver what should be built next.
• Work hand in hand with the founder on early priorities for both the technology and the product.

Requirements

What we're looking for

• At least 3 years of engineering experience, with a record of building and shipping production systems quickly.
• Versatility across the stack, including server-side services and user interfaces, and ease shifting between them as needs change.
• High agency and an outcome focus, able to work without a defined scope and execute end-to-end.
• Fluency with modern AI and software tooling.
• Willingness to work in person in San Francisco with the intensity of an early-stage team and demanding hours.

Bonus points

• Background in spatial data, GIS tooling or location-based systems.
• Applied AI research experience, such as a paper, project or production system beyond standard ML pipelines.
• Experience at a high-velocity startup building real systems under pressure.
• Competitive programming accomplishments showing strong algorithmic thinking.
• Prior founding or early-employee startup experience in an unstructured environment.

Benefits

Compensation and benefits

• Base salary: USD 150,000 to 350,000 per year
• Equity

Location and work model

• San Francisco, CA, United States
• On-site, in person
• Full-time