Lead Founding Backend Engineer (Node, Python, React, AI/ML) - Startup Experience (San Francisco)

Job Openings Lead Founding Backend Engineer (Node, Python, React, AI/ML) - Startup Experience

About the job Lead Founding Backend Engineer (Node, Python, React, AI/ML) - Startup Experience

About the Company

One of our prestigious building the first proactive intelligence network a new kind of consumer social platform powered by AI. Our mission is to transform AI from a novelty into something practical, social, and seamlessly integrated into daily life .

Think of this as the next wave of consumer social, where psychology, recommendation systems, and AI come together to give people what Naval Ravikant calls permissionless leverage access to intelligence at scale without barriers.

This is a zero-to-one founding opportunity . Youll help define how consumers interact with AI for the next decade, alongside a small group of world-class engineers and product builders.

What Youll Do

Build the foundation: Architect and implement the core backend systems for a consumer AI social platform.

Design for scale: Create resilient, high-performance infrastructure capable of supporting millions of users.

Own the data: Develop real-time, low-latency data pipelines powering ML-driven personalization and recommendations.

Full-stack mindset: Focus on backend (Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL) while collaborating across frontend (React, TypeScript).

Shape the product: Partner with product and design to deliver features that make AI collaborative, intuitive, and sticky.

What We're Looking For

8 to10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 5 years in Big Tech or high-scale consumer apps .

Strong track record building and scaling systems to millions of users or #1 App Store status.

Expertise in Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, React, TypeScript , and deploying services on AWS or GCP .

Hands-on experience with AI/ML infrastructure (vector databases, LLMs, real-time data).

Consumer social DNA ideally with experience at Meta, Snap, TikTok, Discord, Reddit, X, Clubhouse, BeReal, etc.

Startup mindset: autonomous, resourceful, and able to own complex projects end-to-end.

Willing and excited to work onsite in San Francisco (South Park), 56 days/week.

Bonus: Your career path includes time outside of SF/Seattle ecosystems.

Not Required:

• C2C Candidates
• Job Hoppers (frequent short stints in roles).
• Graduates from Coding Bootcamps (e.g., Full Stack Academy, Hack Reactor).
• Consulting Backgrounds (Experience at IT software development firms instead of actual product companies).