Founding Engineer

Amadeus Search; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-funded consumer startup in New York is seeking a Founding Engineer to drive product innovation and enhance user experiences. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of engineering experience, specifically in consumer product startups. You will build features across the stack, define engineering culture, and collaborate closely with the founding team. This role offers competitive compensation with a salary range of $120K–$200K and equity opportunities. They value ownership and creativity in problem-solving, ensuring a delightful user experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a full-stack or mobile engineer in consumer product startups.
• Proficiency in Native iOS development is necessary.
• Experience with Node.js, JavaScript, and TypeScript is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement features across native iOS and backend services.
• Collaborate closely with founding team on product strategy.
• Build infrastructure for personalized consumer features.

Skills

Native iOS development

Full-stack engineering

Node.js

JavaScript

TypeScript

Product design instincts

Job description

Founding Engineer

Full-time | On-site (NYC) or Remote
$120K–$200K + 0.2%–2% equity

About the Opportunity

A well-funded consumer startup is on a mission to reinvent how people express connection, humor, and joy in the digital age—bridging the gap between online expression and real-world delight. Backed by top-tier investors and built by founders with experience at major tech companies and successful startups, the company is now hiring its first Founding Engineer.

This is not a traditional engineering role—you'll be at the heart of product innovation, building across the stack, iterating quickly, and helping shape the cultural tone of a new consumer experience. You'll bring both technical excellence and strong product instincts, with a deep passion for designing thoughtful, playful user experiences.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and implement end-to-end features across native iOS and backend services
• Collaborate closely with the founding team on product strategy, UX, and user feedback
• Build infrastructure to support highly personalized, design-forward consumer features
• Take projects from idea to production with autonomy and velocity
• Help define engineering culture, systems, and hiring standards

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years as a full-stack or mobile engineer, ideally in consumer product startups
• Native iOS development experience is a must
• Proficiency with Node.js, JavaScript, and TypeScript is preferred
• A combination of big tech and early-stage startup experience
• A track record of meaningful impact on user-facing features
• Bonus: You’ve launched side projects just for fun or design’s sake

You Might Be a Fit If You...

• Obsess over clean interfaces and delightful interactions
• Take full ownership of problems, from product thinking to deployment
• Care deeply about users, craftsmanship, and delivering joy at scale
• Have strong opinions on how consumer apps should feel and function
• Thrive in ambiguity and move fast with conviction