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Remote Founding Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Cyclotron, Inc.

AI-Native Product Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$120K - $149K/yr

Remote (US or Canada) Rate: $120,000-$150,000 (rates vary in Canada) Position Overview We are ... This person should operate less like a ticket-based contractor and more like a founding engineer ...

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Civil

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate ... Understanding of remote communication software * Ability to quickly come up to speed on in-process ...

Quanta Services

Graduate Engineer - Civil

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate ... Understanding of remote communication software * Ability to quickly come up to speed on in-process ...

Quanta Services

Electrical Design Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate ... Understanding of remote communication software * Ability to quickly come up to speed on in-process ...

New

Akuna Capital

Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$120K/yr

Our Founding Partners first conceptualized Akuna in their hometown of Sydney. They opened the firm ... This role is open to hybrid and fully remote candidates In addition to technical skillsets, Akuna ...

Akuna Capital

Senior Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$145K/yr

Our Founding Partners first conceptualized Akuna in their hometown of Sydney. They opened the firm ... This role is open to hybrid and fully remote candidates In addition to technical skillsets, Akuna ...

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Remote Founding Engineer information

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

To thrive as a Remote Founding Engineer, you need a deep background in software development, systems architecture, and ideally startup experience, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Mastery of cloud platforms, version control (like Git), and familiarity with frameworks relevant to the product, as well as experience with DevOps tools, are typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, self-motivation, and strong communication skills help remote founding engineers stand out, especially in fast-paced, ambiguous environments. These combined skills and qualities are crucial for building scalable products, driving innovation, and collaborating effectively while working remotely in an early-stage company.

What is a Remote Founding Engineer?

A Remote Founding Engineer is a key technical team member who helps launch and build a startup from its earliest stages, working entirely or primarily from a remote location. They are responsible for designing and developing the initial product, making crucial technical decisions, and often establishing the company's engineering culture. Founding Engineers typically collaborate closely with the company’s founders and may have a significant influence on the startup’s direction. Their role often includes both hands-on coding and broader responsibilities such as hiring, setting up processes, and scaling technology as the company grows.

What are some unique challenges and rewards of being a Remote Founding Engineer in an early-stage startup?

As a Remote Founding Engineer, you'll face the challenge of building core product features from scratch while collaborating virtually with other founders and early team members. This often means balancing rapid, iterative development with high-quality code, all while helping to set technical direction and culture remotely. The role is highly rewarding for those who thrive in dynamic environments and value broad ownership, as your contributions directly shape the product and the company's future. You'll also gain valuable experience in both technical leadership and startup operations, positioning yourself for significant career growth and potential equity rewards.
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Remote Founding Engineer jobs near you
AI-Native Product Engineer

AI-Native Product Engineer

Cyclotron, Inc.

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$120K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Job Type: FTE
Level: Senior
Department: Product Team
Location: Remote (US or Canada)
Rate: $120,000-$150,000 (rates vary in Canada)
Position Overview
We are seeking a rare hybrid profile: a senior, product-minded, AI-native engineer who can own a product area end-to-end, from a vague business objective through thoughtful product definition, technical design, implementation, testing, and iteration. This person should operate less like a ticket-based contractor and more like a founding engineer assigned to a product area.
The ideal candidate can understand user needs, define effective workflows, make sound SaaS architecture decisions, use AI tools to accelerate high-quality development, validate and test generated code, communicate clearly, and move work forward independently in ambiguous environments.
Responsibilities
  • Own product areas from broad business goals through discovery, design, implementation, testing, and iteration.
  • Translate ambiguous objectives into clear user workflows, product requirements, technical plans, and implementation steps.
  • Question unclear requirements, identify missing pieces, surface risks and edge cases, and propose better product or technical approaches when appropriate.
  • Design and build polished, intuitive SaaS workflows, including dashboards, tables, filters, forms, detail views, configuration experiences, empty states, loading states, and error states.
  • Make thoughtful architecture decisions across data models, APIs, frontend architecture, backend architecture, permissions, integrations, state management, scalability, security, and maintainability.
  • Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, test creation, documentation, and architectural exploration.
  • Critically review, validate, debug, and test AI-generated code to ensure production-quality implementation.
  • Communicate clearly and proactively about requirements, architecture, tradeoffs, implementation status, open questions, risks, and blockers.
  • Drive work forward independently while collaborating effectively with product, engineering, design, and business stakeholders.
Qualifications
  • Senior-level engineering experience with the ability to design, build, validate, and improve production software.
  • Strong product judgment, including the ability to understand users, workflows, pain points, business outcomes, and success criteria.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguity, ask clarifying questions, challenge assumptions respectfully, and make progress without highly detailed tickets.
  • Advanced fluency with AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, or similar environments.
  • Ability to orchestrate AI tools effectively rather than treating them as simple autocomplete or boilerplate generators.
  • Strong technical judgment across SaaS architecture, including data modeling, API design, frontend and backend design, permissions, integrations, scalability, error handling, maintainability, and security considerations.
  • Solid understanding of modern SaaS UX patterns and the ability to build interfaces that feel intuitive, polished, and product-quality.
  • Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to explain reasoning, tradeoffs, risks, blockers, and decisions clearly and concisely.
  • Ownership mindset with the ability to act as a force multiplier for the product and engineering organization.
Additional Knowledge & Skills
  • Ability to define product workflows, key screens, data models, permissions models, user actions, edge cases, and implementation approaches from vague product goals.
  • Experience using AI for code generation, architecture comparison, debugging, refactoring, test creation, documentation, and rapid iteration.
  • Ability to identify hallucinations, flawed logic, architectural gaps, and quality issues in AI-generated output.
  • Strong instincts around SaaS admin workflows, multi-tenant considerations, auditability, notifications, readiness tracking, executive summaries, and operational dashboards.
  • Comfort evaluating tradeoffs between MVP scope, future scale, usability, performance, security, and maintainability.
  • Ability to communicate asynchronously with clarity, structure, and appropriate context for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong candidates will show evidence of owning product, UX, architecture, and implementation together, rather than operating only as a backend, frontend, or ticket-based individual contributor.
  • This role is not a fit for someone who requires fully defined requirements, avoids ambiguity, cannot explain architectural decisions, has weak written communication, or cannot use AI tools at an advanced level.
About the Company
Cyclotron is a Microsoft Solutions Partner focused on the modern workplace, data, and AI. We are dedicated to empowering clients to streamline operations and achieve their business goals. The company fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment, encouraging continuous learning and professional growth for its employees. Cyclotron's mission is to deliver reliable, forward-thinking technology solutions that drive success for clients across various industries.
What We Can Offer
Cyclotron offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being and professional growth in a fully remote work environment. We provide competitive health, dental, and vision insurance, and we cover 100% of employee medical premiums. Our team members benefit from generous and flexible paid time off (PTO), retirement plan options, and ongoing training opportunities. Additionally, Cyclotron promotes work-life balance with flexible work arrangements and robust wellness programs, creating a rewarding and supportive workplace for all.
Cyclotron relies on diversity of culture and thought to deliver on our goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees to join our team, regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
We also provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law.
Cyclotron is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Cyclotron values diversity, equity and inclusion, and aims to practice DE&I in all that we do.

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