Lead Software Engineer

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