We’re working with a well-funded, early-stage startup in stealth mode building next-generation AI-driven software. This is a true ground-floor opportunity to join as a founding engineer and help shape both the product and the technical direction from day one.

The team is tackling complex, real-world problems with a strong focus on building intelligent, scalable systems powered by modern AI. They’re looking for someone who wants to have a direct impact owning features end-to-end, influencing architecture, and helping define how the product evolves.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Build and scale a modern, user-friendly web application from the ground up
Work across the full stack, with a strong emphasis on backend development in Python
Develop and integrate APIs and services that power AI-driven functionality
Partner closely with product and design to iterate quickly based on user feedback
Own key technical decisions around architecture, performance, and scalability
Implement secure systems for data handling, authentication, and user workflows

What They’re Looking For:

6+ years of experience building modern web applications
Strong backend experience with Python (this is a core focus)
Frontend experience with React and TypeScript
Experience working with cloud environments (AWS preferred)
Solid understanding of system design, APIs, and scalable architecture
Ability to operate in a fast-moving, ambiguous startup environment

Nice to Have:

Experience working with AI/ML systems, LLMs, or semantic search (RAG)
Familiarity with building interactive or data-heavy applications
Experience with real-time or session-based applications (e.g., chat interfaces)

Why This Role:

Founding-level opportunity with real ownership and impact
Well-funded startup with strong early momentum
Ability to work remotely, with optional hybrid collaboration in Chicago
Work on cutting-edge technology solving meaningful, real-world problems

Lead Software Engineer

Benefits