Founding Backend Engineer

About the Role

We are looking for a backend-leaning Founding Engineer who has shipped production software at a pedigreed company — FAANG, high-growth VC-backed startups (Series A+), or equivalent. You will own projects end-to-end in a fast-moving, early-stage environment and help shape the core infrastructure that AI agents use to communicate and operate in the real world.

What You'll Do

• Build and design APIs and backend infrastructure that AI agents use to communicate, authenticate, and operate.
• Own 0→1 projects end-to-end — from scoping customer requirements through system design to production rollout (e.g., IMAP integration, usage-based pricing systems).
• Work across the full stack (~80% backend, ~20% frontend/other), touching distributed systems, databases, and developer tooling.
• Proactively pitch ideas — you are expected to bring product and growth thinking, not just execute tickets.
• Be a front line point of contact for customer feedback and support enterprise deployments.
• Write clear, maintainable code and documentation while processing hundreds of thousands of emails per day.

What We're Looking For

• Strong proficiency in Type Script or modern equivalent frameworks.
• Experience at a FAANG or well-known VC-backed startup (Series A+).
• Deep backend fundamentals: REST API design, system design, server-side architecture.
• Track record of shipping and owning features from 0→1 in production with real users.
• CS or technical degree from a top engineering school (especially for new grads).
• High agency — you bring ideas and drive execution without needing scope handed to you.
• Strong communicator of trade-offs, blockers, and technical decisions.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to San Francisco (on-site 5 days/week).

Bonus Points

• Experience with email, messaging, or protocol-heavy systems (SMTP, IMAP, OAuth).
• Exposure to cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, or developer tooling — especially in AI/LLM or agent workflows.
• Prior founding, fellowship, or 0-to-1 building experience.
• Evidence of doing hard things outside of engineering — competitive athletics, self-directed projects, anything showing grit and agency.