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Senior Founding Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

VHB

Senior Highway Design Engineer

Raleigh, NC · Hybrid

ABOUT THE POSITION Senior Highway Design Engineer | Raleigh, NC Join our dynamic team as a Senior ... Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported ...

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Baxter

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC

$104K - $143K/yr

It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining ... As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you'll: * Design and Develop Embedded Software Applications:

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All JobsFounding Engineer JobsSenior Founding Engineer JobsSenior Founding Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Senior Founding Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$57.8K

$123K

$178.4K

How much do senior founding engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior founding engineer in Raleigh, NC is $123,024.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,600.00 and $139,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectSenior Founding EngineerLead Software Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's or master's in computer science or related field, with extensive experienceSimilar educational background, often with several years of software development experience
Work EnvironmentEarly-stage startups or new company divisions, often wearing multiple hatsEstablished teams within companies, focusing on project leadership and technical guidance
Industry UsageCommon in startups, tech companies, and entrepreneurial venturesWidely used across tech firms, especially in mid to large-sized organizations
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in startup environments, founding responsibilitiesClarifying leadership roles in software development teams

The main difference is that a Senior Founding Engineer is typically an early team member in a startup, often involved in building the product from the ground up, while a Lead Software Engineer usually operates within established organizations, leading project teams and overseeing technical execution.

What are Senior Founding Engineers?

Senior Founding Engineers are experienced technical professionals who join a startup at its earliest stages, often as part of the founding team. They are responsible for designing and building the initial product architecture, making critical technical decisions, and setting engineering best practices. In addition to hands-on coding, they often help shape the company's culture, contribute to hiring, and may participate in strategic business decisions. Their work significantly impacts the company's trajectory and future growth.

How does a Senior Founding Engineer typically balance hands-on technical work with strategic decision-making in an early-stage startup?

As a Senior Founding Engineer, you’ll often juggle direct coding responsibilities with broader technical leadership tasks, such as setting architectural direction and influencing early product decisions. In a small, agile team, you’ll collaborate closely with other founders, designers, and sometimes initial customers to iterate rapidly on features while ensuring scalability and maintainability. The role demands adaptability—shifting between solving immediate technical problems and long-term planning to support growth. This dual focus is both a challenge and an opportunity for career development, as it provides visibility into all aspects of building a product and company from the ground up.

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

To thrive as a Senior Founding Engineer, you need deep expertise in software engineering, product development, and startup environments, usually demonstrated by a strong technical background and experience launching products from scratch. Familiarity with modern programming languages, cloud platforms, version control (e.g., Git), and agile development tools is essential, and experience with system architecture or DevOps is highly valued. Leadership, adaptability, and excellent problem-solving skills set standout candidates apart, as does the ability to communicate complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. These skills are crucial for driving technical innovation, building scalable products, and shaping the culture and success of an early-stage startup.
What are popular job titles related to Senior Founding Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Senior Founding Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Founding Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Founding Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
Senior Founding Engineer jobs near you
Senior Highway Design Engineer

Senior Highway Design Engineer

VHB

Raleigh, NC • Hybrid

Full-time

Posted 18 hours ago

Job description

ABOUT THE POSITION

Senior Highway Design Engineer | Raleigh, NC

Join our dynamic team as a Senior Highway Design Engineer in Raleigh, North Carolina. You will play a crucial role in enhancing our communities through sustainable and integrated project delivery. As a Senior Highway Design Engineer, you will contribute to highway and trail design projects, traffic management plans, signing plans, pavement marking plans, and cost estimating. Our clients range from municipalities to state agencies and private partners, all invested in creating better places for people to live, work, recreate, and learn.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the production and delivery of highway design projects, overseeing the entire lifecycle from inception to construction administration phase.
  • Manage pre-design project planning and technical task execution.
  • Develop geometric layout, grading and drainage plans, coordinate with utilities, and ensure compliance with environmental permitting requirements.
  • Supervise the development of technical design and specification documents.

Skills/Abilities

  • Proficiency in MicroStation and Open Roads Designer (ORD) software; expertise in AutoCAD Civil 3D is a plus.
  • Excellent multitasking abilities to handle multiple concurrent projects.
  • Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
  • Capable of leading and mentoring junior staff.
  • Skilled in technical task management and oversight.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
  • 11-15+ years of professional transportation engineering experience.
  • NC Professional Engineer (PE) license
  • Experience with NCDOT and NC municipal roadway improvement projects.

  

Building what’s next, together.

Our people make the difference. We foster a technology-empowered, peopledriven, futureready culture where agility, innovation, and collaboration shape how we work every day.

 

When you join VHB, you’ll find:

  • Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
  • A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
  • Support to grow your skills and lead through change
  • Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies, including AI
  • Best-in-class benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment

We’re growing across the East Coast and are consistently recognized as a great place to work. Ready to shape what’s next? Learn more about what sets our employee experience apart and connect with us.  

 

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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