Founding Engineer

Loop AI - Delivery Intelligence Platform; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge AI startup in San Francisco is seeking a Founding Engineer with 4+ years of backend experience. You will design and scale backend systems, mentor junior engineers, and tackle technical challenges in the food-tech space. Ideal candidates will have deep expertise in Python, Django, and PostgreSQL, along with a strong ownership mentality. Join us in revolutionizing the restaurant industry with innovative solutions.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience building and scaling backend systems.
• Deep expertise in Python, Django, PostgreSQL (or similar backend stack).
• Proven ability to architect, design, and optimize backend services in production environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable backend system architecture.
• Apply first-principles thinking to solve technical challenges.
• Provide technical mentorship to mid-level and junior engineers.

Skills

Backend engineering

Python

Django

PostgreSQL

Cloud platforms (GCP)

Data pipelines

Job description

About Loop

Loop AI is a San Francisco–based tech company founded in 2022. We provide a Delivery Intelligence Platform for data-driven digital food brands, helping them optimize operations and make informed decisions. As an early stage AI startup, we are revolutionizing the restaurant industry by streamlining and automating back‑office operations through cutting‑edge AI technology. Loop is at the forefront of food‑tech innovation, building solutions that power the future of digital‑first restaurants.

About The Role

We are looking for a Founding Engineer with 4+ years of backend engineering experience to join our fast‑growing team. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment, has a strong sense of ownership, and can design, build, and scale backend systems from the ground up. You’ll be among the first engineers in our US team, working hand‑in‑hand with the founders on high‑impact product and engineering decisions.
At Loop, you will play a critical role in shaping our backend architecture, driving technical excellence, and mentoring peers, while also engaging with customers to ensure our solutions address real‑world challenges in the food‑tech space.

Key Responsibilities

• System Architecture: Design and implement scalable backend system architecture to support current needs and long‑term vision. Drive system performance, scalability, and reliability improvements across services. Establish engineering best practices for code quality, testing, CI/CD, and monitoring. Collaborate closely with product and leadership to align technology strategy with business goals.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Apply first‑principles thinking to solve complex technical challenges. Challenge existing assumptions and propose innovative, practical solutions. Evaluate trade‑offs between speed and scalability, balancing short‑term deliverables with long‑term architecture goals.
• Team & Mentorship: Provide technical mentorship to mid‑level and junior engineers. Review code and contribute to fostering a high‑quality engineering culture. Take ownership of projects, driving them from conception to deployment.

Must‑Have

• 4+ years of professional experience building and scaling backend systems.
• Deep expertise in Python, Django, PostgreSQL (or similar backend stack).
• Proven ability to architect, design, and optimize backend services in production environments.
• Hands‑on experience with cloud platforms (preferably GCP), data pipelines, and orchestration tools like DBT.
• Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and performance optimization skills.
• Self‑starter with ownership mentality, capable of driving projects independently in a fast‑paced startup setting.

Nice‑to‑Have

• Exposure to frontend technologies (React / JS frameworks) with willingness to learn.
• Experience building customer‑facing products in B2B SaaS or food‑tech / logistics platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and contribute to scaling engineering teams.
• Strong product sense, with curiosity and passion for solving real‑world customer problems.
• A mindset focused on quality, continuous learning, and customer delight.