Founding Engineer

WhyBrilliant; Bonn; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

WhyBrilliant is seeking a Founding Engineer in Bonn, Germany to join early at a startup building agentic AI for local businesses. You will own core product architecture end-to-end, crafting autonomous agent pipelines and full-stack systems from day zero alongside the founders.

As Employee #3/4, you will architect foundational systems, set engineering standards, and ship complete products rapidly in a hacker-house environment in Bonn, Germany.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of full-time software engineering experience shipping real systems.
• Proven builder DNA: shipping independent projects end-to-end.
• Strong CS fundamentals and ability to ramp on modern stacks quickly.
• Willingness to work in-person from Bonn hacker house.

Responsibilities

• Own core product architecture end-to-end, building autonomous agent pipelines and full-stack systems.
• Architect reliable autonomous agent pipelines, computer-use automation, and context management workflows.
• Build scalable backend services, clean data models, and user interfaces across our stack.
• Rapidly prototype, test, and ship complete products from initial concept to production in half a day.
• Master and adopt whatever tools or frameworks best solve the problem at hand.
• Help set foundational engineering practices and technical standards for our core team.

Job description

Also searchable as:

• Full Stack AI Engineer
• Staff Software Engineer
• Senior Full Stack Engineer

Original title: Founding Engineer

WhyBrilliant is sourcing applicants for this role on behalf of an early-stage German startup building agentic AI for local businesses.

The company's identity may stay confidential until first contact.

Atlas, our AI Recruiter, is running this search and will pick the best candidates from Nova's network. The next step is to speak to Nova.

The Role

Job Title: Founding Engineer

Location: Bonn, Germany

Why this role matters

Local businesses are stuck juggling fragmented, outdated software. We are building the single multimodal interface and operating system powered by agentic AI to automate their workflows and drive bottom-line profits. Joining as Employee #3/#4 means architecting foundational systems right alongside the founders from day zero.

What You’ll Do

You will own core product architecture end-to-end, building autonomous agent pipelines and full-stack systems.

• Architect reliable autonomous agent pipelines, computer-use automation, and context management workflows.
• Build scalable backend services, clean data models, and user interfaces across our stack.
• Rapidly prototype, test, and ship complete products from initial concept to production in half a day.
• Master and adopt whatever tools or frameworks best solve the problem at hand.
• Help set foundational engineering practices and technical standards for our core team.

Who this is a fit for

• 1+ years of full-time professional software engineering experience shipping real systems.
• Proven builder DNA: you love shipping independent projects, hackathons, or tools end-to-end.
• Exceptional raw horsepower, problem-solving speed, and strong CS fundamentals.
• Strong generalist software foundations with the ability to ramp on any modern stack rapidly.
• High bias for action, radical candor, and strong opinions loosely held.
• Able and excited to work in-person from our hacker house in Bonn, Germany.

What it's like to work here

SF-intensity in Germany operating from a hacker house in Bonn. High-ownership, fast-paced (napkin sketch to live prototype in half a day), radical candor, strong opinions loosely held, and tight-knit builder culture. Total engineering team kept intentionally small.

The offer

• Massive technical ownership and architectural freedom with zero corporate bureaucracy.
• Daily direct collaboration alongside experienced serial founders and product leaders.
• A high-velocity builder environment operating out of a hacker house on the Rhine.
• A tight-knit, elite engineering culture intentionally capped at ~20 builders.
• Full visa sponsorship and comprehensive relocation assistance to Bonn.

This probably isn't for you if

• You prefer remote work, large matrixed organizations, or rigid corporate hierarchies.
• You need comprehensive PRDs and detailed specs before you start writing code.
• You are uncomfortable with direct candor and rapid, hands-on experimentation.