Founding Product Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role

Join a small, impact-driven product team at a seed-stage AI startup transforming the construction industry. The company builds computer vision and AI solutions that simplify blueprint reading, cost estimation, and permit applications — helping teams deliver more homes, hospitals, and schools faster and with less waste.

As a Founding Product Engineer , you'll be one of the earliest engineers on the team, owning features end-to-end, working directly with customers, and helping shape the product and company from the ground up. This is a high-ownership, high-impact role for someone who loves building things people actually use.

What You'll Do

• Own features end-to-end — from customer discovery to shipping in production.

• Interview customers weekly and translate messy domain knowledge into clear, useful product decisions.

• Build intuitive UIs that make complex blueprint and hardware data feel simple for users accustomed to paper-based workflows.

• Contribute across the full stack: React frontend, Python backend, and infrastructure.

• Act as a 0-to-1 architect and builder, taking ideas from concept to production.

• Shape product direction — not just implementation details.

• Apply strong product taste to how things look, feel, and work for real users.

• Communicate with empathy and honesty within the team and directly with customers.

• Roll up your sleeves for the operational "schlep" that keeps a seed-stage startup moving.

What We're Looking For

Must-haves:

• Demonstrated ability to build and ship full-stack software (React frontend + Python backend); open to all experience levels including new grads.

• Experience owning features end-to-end — from discovery through to shipping.

• Track record of interviewing customers and turning their feedback into product decisions.

• Experience building and maintaining Python-based backend services and deployment/infrastructure.

• Willingness to work in-office in San Francisco and eligibility to work in the US (US citizen or valid existing visa — no sponsorship available).

Nice to have:

• Previous experience as a founder or early startup employee who shipped a product used or paid for by customers.

• Construction, blueprint, or related domain knowledge or a genuine interest in the industry.

• Strong product taste and user-focused design sensibility.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $120,000 – $180,000 USD annually

• Early-stage equity opportunity

• High-ownership, founding-team role with significant influence over product direction

Location

• San Francisco, CA, USA — full-time, in-office

• Candidates must be based in SF or willing to relocate

• Visa sponsorship: Not available — US work authorization required