Software Engineer - MeritFirst

8VC; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Autonomy in work

Modern technology stack

Focus on meritocracy

Innovative projects

Job summary

A cutting-edge tech company in Austin, Texas, is seeking a Software Engineer to develop innovative software solutions that enhance merit-based hiring. You will own features from conception to deployment, using a modern tech stack with TypeScript, React, and Next.js to build products that empower organizations to discover talent effectively. Ideal candidates should have meaningful experience in web app development and a passion for creating opportunities based on capability, not credentials. Join us and make a real difference!

Qualifications

• Experience building production web apps with TypeScript / React / Next.js.
• Ability to design clean database schemas.
• Strong product mindset with focus on UX.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy software solutions.
• Define scope and UX with stakeholders.
• Conduct analytics and improve performance.

Skills

TypeScript

React

Next.js

Postgres

Communication

Job description

About MeritFirst

At MeritFirst, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how companies identify and evaluate talent, regardless of background. By rejecting outdated, unreliable proxies for capability and embracing objective, merit-based assessments, we are rebuilding the meritocratic infrastructure of opportunity from the ground up.

Role Overview

As a Software Engineer at MeritFirst, you’ll be responsible for developing, testing, and deploying software solutions that meet the needs of our users. You’ll take features from initial idea to live product. Your work will power real‑time assessments, AI workflows, and tools that hiring managers rely on to build excellent teams. You will help transform the way organizations discover and empower talent across industries, setting a new standard for merit-based hiring.

What You’ll Do

• Own features end‑to‑end: work with our CEO, company partners, and candidate users to define scope and sketch UX.
• Build with Next.js + TypeScript, wire up data in Postgres / Drizzle, ship on Vercel, and iterate.
• Shape product direction: propose experiments, cut scope intelligently, and use data and feedback to guide future decisions.
• Keep things fast and reliable: instrument analytics / telemetry, write tests, review PRs, and improve performance and developer ergonomics.

Qualifications

Must-Haves

• Meaningful experience building production web apps with TypeScript / React / Next.js and Postgres (impact > exact years).
• Ability to design clean DB schemas, write performant queries, and reason about cost.
• Product mindset: enjoy clarifying the core problem and delighting users through UX polish.
• Crisp communication: written and async, and a bias toward action and ownership over waiting for direction.

Nice‑to‑Haves

• Experience with real‑time video or proctoring technology, AI/LLM pipelines, or large‑scale assessment platforms.
• Passion for meritocracy and building products that broaden access to opportunity.

Why Join Us?

• Autonomy: rapid growth with outsized ownership and scope.
• Modern stack: TypeScript, Next.js, Postgres, Drizzle, Vercel, LLMs.
• Meritocracy: We focus on real capabilities, not credentials. You’ll be assessed based on your skills and ability to execute, not the name of your school or employer.
• Innovation: Work on cutting‑edge projects that challenge the status quo and empower people to succeed.
• Backed by the best: We’re funded by 8VC and Slow Ventures, with support from world‑class builders like Joe Lonsdale and Sam Lessin who’ve helped scale some of the most influential tech companies of the last decade.

If you're looking to be part of a team that prioritizes capability over credentials and wants to make a real difference, we encourage you to apply. Let’s build something that matters.