Technical Founding Engineer

Hexabyn Technologies; Kuching; Hybrid; MYR 150,000 - 200,000; Part time

Job summary

A forward-thinking tech startup is seeking a Founding Engineer intern or fresh graduate based in Kuching, Sarawak. This role enables you to build real features from scratch while working with exciting technologies like Laravel and React. You'll be compensated with a base salary of RM400-3,000/month plus bonuses, and have the opportunity to grow into a full-time position with equity potential. Ideal candidates are self-starters with a passion for technology and innovation in a collaborative startup environment.

Benefits

Performance bonuses

Equity options

Flexible working hours

Local startup event participation

Direct mentorship from founders

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in Laravel or PHP MVC frameworks.
• Comfortable with React hooks and component architecture.
• Understanding of PostgreSQL or relational databases.
• Ability to use AI tools productively.

Responsibilities

• Build full-stack features using Laravel and React.
• Work with PostgreSQL databases and optimize queries.
• Use AI tools to automate workflows and internal processes.
• Take ownership of problems end-to-end.

Skills

Laravel

React

PostgreSQL

Problem-solving

AI tools utilization

Education

Current CS student or similar background

Job description

Founding Engineer Opportunity | Intern/Fresh Grad | EdTech × AI × Payments

Location: Kuching, Sarawak - Hybrid/On-site (Flexible) | Compensation: RM400-3,000/month + Performance Bonuses + Equity Potential

Not Your Typical Internship

We're not looking for someone who waits for instructions. We're looking for that person who:

• Googles/ChatGPTs the error before asking
• Builds side projects because they're genuinely curious
• Gets excited about solving problems, not just writing code
• Wants to build something from scratch, not maintain legacy code

The Path:

Start as an intern → Prove you can deliver → Become a full-time team member → Potential Founding Engineer with equity.

Already experienced? You can start further along this path — just let us know your experience level when you apply.

If you need hand-holding, clear 9-5 boundaries, or a structured corporate environment — this isn't for you.

What We’re Actually Building

We're an early-stage startup (small agile team) working at the intersection of:

• EdTech - Making learning more accessible
• Payment Platforms - Solving real transaction problems
• AI Products - Leveraging GenAI for real-world automation

You won't be fetching coffee or doing grunt work. You'll be building core features that real users will interact with from day one.

What You’ll Be Doing

Real talk: You’ll be coding. A lot. Both frontend and backend.

• Build full-stack features using Laravel (backend) and React (frontend)
• Work with PostgreSQL databases and optimize queries
• Experiment with VectorDB and GenAI APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)
• Use AI tools (Cursor, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude) to code faster — but you need to know what the AI is doing
• Automate workflows and internal processes using GenAI
• Ship features fast, iterate based on feedback, break things, fix them
• Take ownership of problems end-to-end without waiting for micro-management

Translation: If you can’t figure things out independently, debug your own code, or learn new tech by reading docs/experimenting — you’ll struggle here.

What We Actually Need (Must-Haves)

Technical:

• Strong foundation in Laravel (or PHP MVC frameworks)
• Comfortable with React (hooks, state management, component architecture)
• Understanding of PostgreSQL or relational databases
• Problem-solving skills > knowing every framework
• Ability to use AI tools productively (not just copy-paste without understanding)

Mindset (This is the real requirement):

• Self-starter - You see a problem, you fix it. You don’t wait for permission.
• Curious - You actively want to learn VectorDB, GenAI, new APIs, better ways to solve problems
• Resourceful - You exhaust Stack Overflow, docs, and AI before asking for help
• Ownership mentality - You don’t say “that’s not my job” - if it needs doing, you do it
• Comfortable with ambiguity - Startup = no perfect roadmap. You help figure out what to build.

What You Get

For Interns:

• Base: RM400/month
• Performance-based: Up to RM1,000/month (based on output & impact)
• Clear progression path: Start as intern → Prove yourself → Transition to full-time team member
• Potential to become Founding Engineer with equity if you’re exceptional

For Fresh Grads:

• Base: Up to RM3,000/month
• Performance bonuses based on deliverables and impact
• Equity/stock options after performance appraisal and reaching key milestones
• Direct path to Founding Engineer role

Everyone Gets:

• Full flexibility - Work when/where you want, as long as work gets done
• Must be reachable and available for face-to-face meetings when needed
• Participate in local startup events, hackathons, and community
• Real responsibility from day one - your code goes to production
• Direct mentorship from founders (when you need it, not constant supervision)
• Opportunity to shape product direction and technical decisions
• Path to Founding Engineer if you prove yourself

Working Hours

• Generally 9am-6pm, but we care about output, not clock-watching
• During launches or critical sprints, expect startup hustle (extra hours)
• Not a strict 9‑5 - if you finish early, great. If you need to push for a deadline, that’s expected.

Red Flags (You Probably Won’t Like This If…)

• ❌ You need detailed specs for every task
• ❌ You expect someone to review every line of code before you proceed
• ❌ You’re not comfortable with “figure it out” as an answer sometimes
• ❌ You want a stable, predictable, low-risk job
• ❌ You need constant validation or supervision
• ❌ You see this as “just an internship” to fill your resume

Ideal Candidate Looks Like…

You might be a CS student who’s built personal projects outside class assignments.

You might be a bootcamp grad who’s obsessed with shipping products.

You might be someone who taught themselves to code and wants real-world experience.

What matters:

• You’ve built something (anything) with Laravel and React
• You can show us code you’ve written (GitHub, portfolio, projects)
• You’re genuinely interested in AI and how it’s changing software development
• You want to be part of building something from zero to one
• You take initiative and don’t need someone to tell you what to do every hour

How to Apply

Don’t send a generic CV. Instead, send us:

1. Your GitHub/Portfolio – Show us what you’ve built
2. A quick intro (3‑5 sentences) – Why this role? Why startups? What excites you about AI?
3. One technical challenge you solved – Describe a problem you faced, how you debugged/solved it, what you learned

Email to: [e-mail]

Subject: "Founding Engineer - [Your Name]"

We’ll review applications on a rolling basis and reach out for technical interviews if there’s a fit.

About Us

We’re a small team in the early stages of building across EdTech, payments, and AI products. We’re scrappy, move fast, and believe in giving talented people real responsibility early.

If you want to be one of the Founding Engineers and help shape the technical foundation of something potentially big, let’s talk.

P.S. If you read this far and you’re thinking “this sounds intense but exciting” - you’re probably the right person. If you’re thinking “this sounds like too much work” - we’re probably not a good fit, and that’s okay.

Let’s build something great.