Apply now: Founding Engineer, location is Remote. The start date is ASAP for this contract position.
Job Title: Founding Engineer
Location-Type: Remote (Anywhere USA, EST Preferred)
Start Date Is: ASAP / Targeting June 2026
Duration: 6 Month Contract
Compensation Range: $70-80/hr W2
Benefits: Eligible for Health, Dental, Vision, 401K
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Job Description:
Seeking a Founding Engineer to help build and launch a next-generation coaching platform while driving the modernization of an existing software solution into a scalable, AI-powered product.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities:
- Build and launch a next-generation coaching platform as part of a newly formed product team
- Write production code daily using Ruby on Rails and Next.js
- Partner closely with Product Management, Design, and Subject Matter Experts in a pod-based environment
- Rebuild and modernize existing platform capabilities into a future-state solution
- Make architecture, technical design, and scalability decisions
- Leverage AI to accelerate development velocity and engineering workflows
- Build AI-powered product capabilities including recommendation engines, decision support tools, and coaching intelligence features
- Collaborate directly with leadership on product strategy, priorities, and timelines
- Mentor engineers while remaining a hands-on contributor
- Drive execution in a fast-paced startup-like environment with aggressive delivery timelines
Minimum Requirements:
- Strong Ruby on Rails development experience
- Strong Next.js development experience
- Experience building and launching products from 0-to-1
- Experience rebuilding, modernizing, or re-architecting existing applications or platforms
- Proven experience shipping AI-powered product functionality into production
- Experience incorporating AI into product logic, workflows, or customer-facing features
- Player-coach mindset with technical leadership and hands-on coding responsibilities
- Experience working directly with executives, founders, or senior leadership
- Ability to thrive in ambiguity, ownership, and fast-moving environments
- Strong product mindset with the ability to balance business and technical priorities
Preferred Qualifications:- EdTech industry experience
- Experience with coaching, learning, training, or behavioral science products
- Previous Founding Engineer experience
- Recommendation engine or personalization experience
- Experience leading small engineering teams while remaining hands-on