Founding engineer

About the Role

The Founding Engineer will play a pivotal role in shaping Blue Ink House’s technology vision, architecture, and product foundation. This full-time, on-site role is based in Chennai and involves collaborating closely with founders, editors, designers, and authors to build tools and platforms that streamline the publishing workflow. This role requires a hands-on builder who is comfortable working in an early-stage environment, making technical decisions, and iterating quickly based on user feedback.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing and developing core systems (e.g., author portals, content management, and production tools).
• Setting up scalable infrastructure.
• Integrating third-party services for payments, distribution, and analytics.
• Establishing engineering best practices.
• Implementing testing and deployment pipelines.
• Ensuring security, reliability, and performance of all products.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Java).
• Experience building web applications or platforms from the ground up.
• Experience with system architecture and infrastructure.
• Experience designing scalable APIs.
• Experience working with cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Experience with databases.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines.
• Background in frontend development using contemporary frameworks (e.g., React, Vue, Angular).
• Focus on usability, accessibility, and responsive design.
• Knowledge of backend and integration workflows.
• Experience with RESTful APIs.
• Experience with microservices.
• Experience with authentication/authorization.
• Experience with third-party integrations for payments, analytics, or content distribution.
• Familiarity with product development practices.
• Translating user needs into technical requirements.
• Rapid prototyping.
• Collaborating cross-functionally with non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfort with early-stage startup environments.
• Taking ownership.
• Working with ambiguity.
• Setting technical standards and documentation for future team members.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong collaboration skills.
• Ability to explain technical decisions to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Prior experience in publishing, media, or creator economy is a plus.