Full Stack / Tech Lead, Legal AI Startup NYC - up to 350K

Abacus Group, LLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 270,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity 2–2.5%

In-person at Midtown Manhattan

Job summary

Abacus Group, LLC is building a seed-funded legal AI startup in Midtown Manhattan, hiring a senior/Staff engineer to own the web platform, data layer, and AI systems end-to-end. You will work closely with the founder in person and help shape the technical vision for fundraising and enterprise partnerships.

The role targets staff or senior level, offers $270K–$350K cash plus 2–2.5% equity, and requires strong experience in AI and search systems in an in-person, fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• Hands on experience building AI systems.
• Hands on experience building search systems.
• Comfort making architectural calls, not just executing someone else's design.
• Bonus: cybersecurity experience.
• No legal background required.
• Comfortable in front of VCs and clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and build across the full stack: web, data, and AI.
• Make the core systems design decisions that shape the product long term.
• Work directly with the founder in a fast moving, in person environment
• Eventually help represent the technical vision to VCs and enterprise clients.

Skills

AI systems

Search systems

Architectural decisions

VC/client communication

Cybersecurity

Leadership

Job description

We're working with a seed funded legal AI startup ($5.5M led by Lightspeed, backed by top legal tech angels) building a new way to understand US law. Think search engine, not chatbot. Free access to raw legal content, with AI powered analysis as the paid layer. Targeting big law firms first, launching this fall.

This is a foundational hire. You'd join a lean team (founder, data engineer, AI engineer, UX engineer) and own the web platform, data layer, and AI systems end to end. A path to CTO is realistic, no one currently holds that seat.

What you'll do

• Lead architecture and build across the full stack: web, data, and AI
• Make the core systems design decisions that shape the product long term
• Work directly with the founder in a fast moving, in person environment
• Eventually help represent the technical vision to VCs and enterprise clients

What we're looking for

• A recognizable name on your resume: big tech or a notable high growth startup, this matters for the company's future fundraising
• Hands on experience building AI systems
• Hands on experience building search systems
• Comfort making architectural calls, not just executing someone else's design
• Bonus: cybersecurity experience
• No legal background required
• Comfortable in front of VCs and clients

Ideal candidate is staff or senior level, the kind of person who'd carry a head of engineering or tech lead title at a company like Meta. Open to more junior candidates who are exceptional.

Comp: $270K to $350K cash, plus 2 to 2.5% equity.

Culture note: this is an in person, Midtown Manhattan role with an intense pace, think 9-9-6 rather than 9-5. Not for everyone.