Founding Engineer / Senior Full Stack (AI-native Freight Forwarder)

United States Digital Space LLC; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation + equity

Flexible remote/hybrid work

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is building an AI-native freight forwarder from the ground up. We are seeking a Founding Engineer to join early, work closely with the CTO, own core systems, and shape the platform's AI infrastructure.

You will design end-to-end features, build data pipelines, integrate carriers, and set engineering practices while enjoying massive ownership and a fast-moving, high-impact environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building AI-powered products.
• Experience with LLM profiling and evaluation.
• Zero-to-one startup experience or high ownership roles.
• Strong backend/API design skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and build core product features end-to-end across frontend, backend, and data pipelines.
• Design and implement AI agents and automated workflows for freight operations.
• Make architectural decisions and shape platform direction.
• Build integrations with carriers and logistics systems.
• Ship rapidly based on real customer feedback and operational needs.
• Scale systems from prototype to production-grade.
• Collaborate with CTO and founders on product vision and roadmap.

Skills

AI agents & LLMs

Backend design

TypeScript/Python/Go

Cloud infrastructure

Code with AI tools

English communication

Tools

PostgreSQL

Redis

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP)

Job description

At the company, we are reinventing freight forwarding from the ground up. We are a VC-backed, AI-native freight forwarder on a mission to transform one of the world's largest and most outdated industries. By combining deep logistics expertise with cutting-edge automation and AI, we are building a faster, smarter, and radically more efficient and customer-centric freight forwarder. Our vision is simple: make global freight movement seamless, intelligent, and operationally excellent.

We are looking for an exceptional Founding Engineer to help design and build the technical foundation of the company. You will be one of the first hires on the engineering team, working very closely with the CTO to own critical systems, make architectural decisions, and build the AI-native infrastructure that powers every shipment, workflow, and customer interaction.

This role offers massive ownership, a steep learning curve, and the opportunity to shape both the product and the engineering culture from day one.

Tasks

• Own and build core product features end-to-end, from frontend interfaces to backend services and data pipelines
• Design and implement AI agents and automated workflows that transform freight operations
• Make architecture decisions and shape the technical direction of the platform
• Build integrations with carriers, logistics systems, tracking providers, and partner APIs
• Ship fast and iterate based on real customer feedback and operational needs
• Scale systems from early product to production-grade infrastructure serving real freight volumes
• Work directly with the CTO and founders on product vision, strategy, and roadmap priorities
• Help define engineering best practices, code quality standards, and future hiring

Requirements

• Vibe coding native - you don't just use AI tools, you think with them. Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot are part of how you build, not an afterthought
• Experienced software engineer with strong proficiency in at least one modern language (TypeScript, Python, Go, or similar)
• Hands-on experience building AI agents, working with LLMs, and integrating AI into real products
• Experience with LLM profiling and evaluation - tracing, scoring, optimizing cost, latency, and quality of AI outputs
• Solid backend skills - Postgres, Redis, API design, and cloud infrastructure
• Zero-to-one startup experience or similar high-ownership, fast-moving environments
• Product-minded engineer who cares about user impact, not just code
• High-agency mindset - you scope problems, make decisions, and ship without waiting for detailed specs
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration cycles
• Excellent written and verbal English
• Logistics, supply chain, or freight forwarding domain knowledge (nice to have)

Benefits

• Be part of an ambitious VC-backed logistics startup shaping the future of global freight
• Join as one of the first engineers and have direct impact on architecture, product, and technical culture
• Work at the intersection of logistics, AI, and operational excellence
• Young, high-performance, and mission-driven team
• Direct exposure to founders and strategic decision-making
• Access to the best AI tools - we invest in the tools that make you fastest
• Competitive compensation + meaningful equity for early team members
• Flexible remote / hybrid working setup

Most engineering roles ask you to build within an existing system. At the company, you will build the system itself. If you're excited by ownership, speed, real-world impact, and the chance to build something from zero, we'd love to hear from you.