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Startup Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Motion Recruitment

Full Stack Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Join a venture-backed AI startup building an AI-native expert network that helps consulting firms ... This is a foundational engineering role working directly alongside the CTO to build and scale core ...

Motion Recruitment

Full Stack Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Join a venture-backed AI startup building an AI-native expert network that helps consulting firms ... This is a foundational engineering role working directly alongside the CTO to build and scale core ...

Simple AI Lab Company

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $280K/yr

Experience as an early-stage startup engineer or founder. * Experience with TypeScript, React, Python, Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, AWS. If you are excited to shape the visual identity of a fast ...

G-P

OR · On-site

$140K - $176K/yr

Early Startup Engineer: Experience working as a technical co-founder or an early engineering hire at an early-stage startup. * AI/LLM App Development: Hands-on experience building prototypes that ...

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Startup Engineer information

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$39K

$101.8K

$137.5K

How much do startup engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup engineer in the United States is $101,752.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges a Startup Engineer faces when working in an early-stage company?

Startup Engineers often encounter rapidly changing priorities and ambiguous requirements as the company pivots to find product-market fit. They may need to balance building scalable solutions with the need for quick prototyping, sometimes working with limited resources or incomplete documentation. Collaboration across disciplines—such as product, design, and business teams—is frequent, so adaptability and strong communication skills are essential. These challenges can be demanding but also provide valuable opportunities to learn and grow quickly within a dynamic environment.

What are startup engineers?

Startup engineers are versatile software or hardware engineers who work at early-stage companies to design, build, and scale new products or technologies. They often wear many hats, handling everything from coding and infrastructure to product design and sometimes even customer feedback. Startup engineers thrive in fast-paced environments where adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving are essential. Their work is crucial in turning innovative ideas into viable products quickly, often with limited resources and tight deadlines.

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

To thrive as a Startup Engineer, you need strong programming abilities, a solid understanding of software architecture, and versatility across tech stacks, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS or GCP), version control systems (such as Git), and rapid prototyping tools is commonly required. Adaptability, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for this fast-paced environment. These skills and qualities are crucial for efficiently building scalable products and adapting to the evolving needs and constraints of early-stage startups.
More about Startup Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Startup Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Startup Engineer job openings:
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Startup Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Startup Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,752 per year, or $48.9 per hour.
Full Stack Engineer

Full Stack Engineer

Motion Recruitment

Cambridge, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Job Description
Full-time, onsite opportunity for a Senior or Staff Full Stack Engineer based in Central Square, Cambridge, MA. Join a venture-backed AI startup building an AI-native expert network that helps consulting firms, investors, and enterprises access expert insights with unprecedented speed and precision. Leveraging generative AI, intelligent search, and AI-powered interviewing technology, the platform is transforming how organizations discover expertise, conduct research, and make critical business decisions. This role offers the opportunity to build the core systems powering the next generation of AI-driven knowledge services.


This is a foundational engineering role working directly alongside the CTO to build and scale core platform capabilities. You'll have significant influence over architecture, engineering standards, hiring, and product direction while contributing hands-on across the full technology stack. Ideal for an experienced startup engineer who enjoys ownership, fast-paced environments, and building AI-first products from the ground up.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of professional full-stack software engineering experience
• Strong experience building products in startup or high-growth environments
• Expertise with Python, Django, and/or FastAPI
• Strong proficiency with TypeScript and React
• Experience with PostgreSQL and modern database design
• Experience building applications on AWS
• Experience with Docker and cloud-native development practices
• Experience integrating and working with LLM APIs such as GPT, Claude, or similar models
• Strong system design, architecture, and debugging skills
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience building AI-native or Generative AI products
• Experience with hybrid search, retrieval systems, or knowledge platforms
• Experience mentoring engineers and influencing engineering culture
• Experience making architecture decisions in growing organizations
• Familiarity with modern ML workflows and AI infrastructure
• Experience working closely with product and design teams

What You Will Be Doing

Tech Breakdown

• 40% Backend Development (Python, APIs, Infrastructure)
• 30% Frontend Development (React, TypeScript)
• 20% Architecture & System Design
• 10% AI/LLM Integrations & Innovation

Daily Responsibilities

• 80% Hands On
• 10% Technical Leadership & Mentorship
• 10% Team Collaboration

• Design, build, and maintain scalable software systems across the full stack
• Contribute to architecture decisions that support long-term scalability and performance
• Build and enhance AI-powered product capabilities leveraging LLMs and emerging technologies
• Partner with product, design, and machine learning teams to deliver customer-facing features
• Debug and resolve complex production issues across the platform
• Help establish engineering standards, best practices, and development processes
• Provide guidance and mentorship to fellow engineers when needed
• Evaluate and implement new technologies that improve product capabilities
• Influence hiring decisions and help shape the engineering organization
• Contribute as a founding team member in building a high-performance engineering culture

The Offer

Competitive salary plus meaningful equity

You will receive the following benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Benefits
• Vision Benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Equity Participation
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Professional Development Opportunities

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not provide sponsorship for new work visas but may support transfers of existing work authorization where applicable.

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