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Founding Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Rockstar

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

They are hiring a full-stack software engineer to help shape the future of healthcare. This engineer will be on the front lines of the most ambitious product bets-owning development of core features ...

Govwell

Founding Software Engineer, Platform

New York, NY · On-site

$190K - $260K/yr

Role overview GovWell is hiring a Founding Software Engineer, Platform to build and operate the core backend systems that enable our engineering teams to ship quickly and safely at scale. This role ...

Rockstar

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$150K - $250K/yr

They are hiring a full-stack software engineer to help shape the future of healthcare. This engineer will be on the front lines of the most ambitious product bets-owning development of core features ...

Beam

Founding Software Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

Full-stack software engineering experience, ideally with Python and Next.js + React + Typescript * Previous experience shipping a product from 0 → 1 * Enthusiasm for developer tools, cloud native ...

Rockstar

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$150K - $250K/yr

They are hiring a full-stack software engineer to help shape the future of healthcare. This engineer will be on the front lines of the most ambitious product bets--owning development of core features ...

LHi Group Ltd

Founding Engineer

Manhattan, NY

$190K - $220K/yr

Founding Software Engineer | AI Developer Infrastructure | Rust / TypeScript | NYC Location: New York City (5 days onsite) I'm working with an exceptionally well-funded early-stage startup that ...

New

Dalus

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$140K - $200K/yr

Join to apply for the Founding Software Engineer #1 role at Dalus Join to apply for the Founding Software Engineer #1 role at Dalus This range is provided by Dalus. Your actual pay will be based on ...

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All JobsFounding Software Engineer Jobs

Founding Software Engineer information

See salary details

$63.5K

$147.5K

$205.5K

How much do founding software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding software engineer in the United States is $147,524.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Founding Software Engineers?

Founding Software Engineers are among the first technical hires at a startup or newly formed company. They play a critical role in building the initial product, setting up the technical foundation, and often shaping the company's engineering culture and processes. In addition to coding, they may also be involved in architecture decisions, hiring, and even strategic business discussions. This role typically requires broad technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to work in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

What are some unique challenges faced by Founding Software Engineers in an early-stage startup environment?

Founding Software Engineers in early-stage startups often navigate rapidly shifting priorities and must wear multiple hats, from architecting core systems to handling on-call troubleshooting. The role typically requires balancing the need for quick feature delivery with building scalable, maintainable code. Close collaboration with co-founders and other early team members is essential, as decisions made at this stage have a lasting impact on the product and company culture. Adaptability, strong communication, and ownership are key, as resource constraints and ambiguity are common.

What is the difference between Founding Software Engineer vs Software Engineer?

AspectFounding Software EngineerSoftware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; startup experience often preferredBachelor's degree in CS or related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentEarly-stage startup, high responsibility, flexible rolesEstablished companies or startups, structured teams, defined roles
Employer & Industry UsageFounding teams of startups, tech companiesTech firms, corporations, startups
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding startup roles, early-stage responsibilitiesStandard software development roles, career progression

The main difference is that a Founding Software Engineer is an early team member in a startup, often taking on broader responsibilities and helping shape the company's technical foundation. A Software Engineer typically works within established teams on specific projects, with more defined roles and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Founding Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, full-stack development, and problem-solving, often demonstrated by a strong technical background and relevant degrees. Familiarity with cloud platforms, version control systems (like Git), and modern programming languages or frameworks is essential, along with startup exposure or experience. Initiative, adaptability, and outstanding communication are crucial soft skills for shaping the product vision and collaborating in a small, fast-moving team. These capabilities are vital for efficiently building robust products from scratch and driving early-stage company growth.
More about Founding Software Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Founding Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Founding Software Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Founding Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Founding Software Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Founding Software Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Software Engineer jobs are:
Founding Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% Internship, and 87% Full Time. Highlights an 74% In-person, 13% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,524 per year, or $70.9 per hour.
Founding Software Engineer

Founding Software Engineer

Stealth

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

We’re a battle-tested, mission-obsessed team of technologists, builders, and operators who care deeply about impact—because improving healthcare isn’t just a goal, it’s a necessity. We refuse to accept the broken status quo. Feel the same way? Join us.

Who You Are
  • You operate with an owner’s mindset. Problems aren’t someone else’s to fix—you own them, solve them, and drive results.
  • You’re obsessed with learning and growth. You actively seek out hard problems because you know that’s where the real breakthroughs happen.
  • You think in systems and first principles. Complexity doesn’t scare you—you’re unfazed by ambiguity and can turn chaos into structured execution.
  • You move fast and fix things. Waiting for perfection is a losing game—you iterate, refine, and optimize in real time.
  • You refuse to be blocked. No roadmap? No problem. You navigate uncertainty, find creative solutions, and drive forward regardless.
  • You don’t just suggest ideas—you build them. Action beats theory every time, and you prefer shipping over talking.
  • You thrive in the deep end—you can push through intense challenges while staying clear-headed.
  • You’re allergic to mediocrity. “Good enough” is never good enough, and you expect the same from those around you.
Responsibilities
  • Contribute to our core care-delivery engine, which allows doctors to
  • Develop the mobile app which allows patients to experience the future of healthcare
  • Design and test integrations between our product and client EMR systems
  • Collaborate with a talented engineering team and have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of healthcare.
Qualifications
  • You have demonstrated an ability to design and build full-stack software solutions.
  • You are proficient in using cloud products (AWS / GCP) and LLMs to amplify your output.
  • You are passionate about writing clean, maintainable, and testable code.
  • You are a strong problem-solver and enjoy tackling meaningful real-world problems using code.
Seniority level
  • Entry level
Employment type
  • Full-time
Job function
  • Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
  • Software Development
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