Founding Engineer @ Stealth AI Recruiting Venture

Merantix Capital; Berlin; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Massive ownership and real influence

Meaningful equity

Access to a serious AI network in Berlin

Job summary

Merantix is looking for a Technical Hire #1 in Berlin, the founding engineer to develop the core product and platform. You will build the Xpreso platform end-to-end and design innovative matching systems.

The candidate must have strong experience in TypeScript and Python, a proven track record in shipping software, and a passion for solving complex problems in a fast-paced environment. Significant influence and equity opportunities await the right fit.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with TypeScript and Python, including async systems.
• Proven ability to ship production-grade software.
• Comfort designing and building backend systems.

Responsibilities

• Build the Xpreso platform end-to-end, shipping weekly.
• Own core systems in the tech stack.
• Develop the matching engine and data layer.

Skills

TypeScript (Next.js)

Python (FastAPI)

Async systems

Backend systems (APIs, databases)

Product mindset

Job description

About Us

We are building the voice-first AI recruiter for the German tech ecosystem (and beyond). Hiring is drowning in noise: too many applicants, too little signal. We scale real conversations with candidates and hiring teams, turn them into structured insight, and use that signal to match people to roles faster and better.

We’re backed by Merantix (Tier-1 AI investor), have an experienced founding team, early traction, and we’re going after a very large market.

You are Technical Hire #1 – the founding engineer who helps build the core product and platform from scratch.

What you’ll do:

• Build the Xpreso platform end-to-end (product + infrastructure), shipping weekly.
• Own core systems in our stack:
  • TypeScript / Next.js (app, API routes, backend services where it makes sense)
  • Python / FastAPI (async services, pipelines, ML/LLM‑adjacent logic)
• Build the matching engine (the fun part):
  • turn messy inputs (job needs + candidate intent) into structured signal
  • design ranking / scoring logic and iterate it fast with real outcomes
  • create feedback loops so the system gets smarter over time
• Build the data layer that makes matching possible:
  • schemas, data models, retrieval, embeddings, evaluation, analytics
  • clean interfaces between conversation capture → insight → match decisions
• Integrate the ecosystem:
  • job data feeds, ATS/HR tooling, calendars, messaging, whatever removes friction
• Partner tightly with product + GTM:
  • join customer calls, understand pain, translate it into product
  • keep the system pragmatic, reliable, and secure without over‑engineering

You’re a hands‑on founding engineer who loves shipping, and you’re excited about building a marketplace‑style product where the hardest problem is turning human nuance into usable signal.

Must‑haves:

• Strong experience with TypeScript (Next.js) and Python (FastAPI), including async systems.
• Proven ability to ship production‑grade software in a fast‑moving environment.
• Comfort designing and building backend systems: APIs, databases, queues, integrations.
• Product mindset: you simplify, you prioritize, you build what matters.
• Ownership + urgency: you see problems, you fix them, you communicate clearly.
• Based in Berlin and up for regular in‑person work with the founding team.

Strong pluses:

• Experience with matching, ranking, search, recommendations, or data‑driven scoring.
• Experience with LLM systems in production (prompting, evals, retrieval, guardrails).
• Experience with marketplace products or two‑sided dynamics.
• Experience with analytics instrumentation and experimentation loops.
• Prior early‑stage startup experience (or you’ve operated like it inside a bigger place).

Benefits:

• Massive ownership and real influence (this is Technical Hire #1).
• Meaningful equity – you’re building the core, not “helping out.”
• A high‑slope problem space: matching, signal extraction, and product loops that compound.
• A founder team that moves fast and hates theatre.
• Backing from Merantix and access to a serious AI network in Berlin.
• A shot at defining a category in hiring – with tech that actually matters.