Founding Full-Stack Engineer | San Francisco | $130k–£180k + equity
I’m working with a YC-backed defense AI startup that’s scaling like crazy (60% MoM growth, profitable, $1M ARR inside 8 months, $3.3M raised). They’re building an AI platform that helps defense suppliers, from seatbelt makers to loitering munitions, win the right government contracts.
They’re lean, scrappy, and hiring their Founding Engineer to own massive parts of the stack, ship fast, and work directly with customers shaping mission-critical defense tech.
What you’ll be doing
Ship full-stack features daily (70/30 backend/frontend bias but comfortable across the stack)
Build AI agents + LLM-based workflows into production systems
Talk to users (defense companies, military stakeholders) and turn feedback into product decisions
Work on hard, ambiguous problems with huge national-security impact
Be in-person in San Francisco, with occasional travel to DC / military bases
What they’re looking for
0–4 YoE ideal (can flex up to 7 for exceptional talent)
Strong background in React, Next.js, Python
Ex-technical founder, founding CTO/CPO, or Forward Deployed Engineer background = big plus
Hungry, fast-moving builder who thrives with agency, feedback, and ambiguity
US citizen only (no visa sponsorship)
Package
$130k–$180k
SF office, 5 days/week
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Engineering
Industries
Software Development
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