1

Y Combinator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Product Engineer, Bookface

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250K - $500K/yr

Y Combinator is run by a small team that is committed to helping founders start the next Airbnb, Stripe, Reddit, or Doordash. We work out of the same campus in San Francisco that we run the batch in.

Founding Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$100K - $180K/yr

Our Client is an NYC-based VC-funded seed stage startup backed by Y Combinator. Our client makes it easy for businesses to collect documents from their clients. Instead of having to make client ...

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

AI Research Scientist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $350K/yr

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

AI Research Scientist

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$150K - $350K/yr

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $350K/yr

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

Our CEO Surbhi Sarna is a former General Partner at Y Combinator. Surbhi founded nVision Medical, which developed a new method to detect ovarian cancer and was acquired by Boston Scientific. Our CTO ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Y Combinator information

See salary details

$15

$29

$50

How much do y combinator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for y combinator in the United States is $29.17, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.36 and $33.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the Y Combinator job?

A Y Combinator job typically refers to roles within the startup accelerator organization, such as program managers, investment analysts, or operational staff. These positions often require skills in startup ecosystems, investment evaluation, and supporting early-stage companies through mentorship and funding processes.

What is the difference between Y Combinator vs Startup Founder?

AspectY CombinatorStartup Founder
RoleAccelerator program participant, mentor, or investorIndividual or team creating and leading a startup
CredentialsTypically no formal credentials required, but startup experience helpfulVaries; often includes entrepreneurial skills, industry knowledge
Work EnvironmentIntensive program environment, mentorship-focused, collaborativeOwn startup environment, flexible hours, high responsibility
Industry UsageStartup ecosystem, venture capital, entrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship, tech startups, small business creation

Y Combinator is an accelerator program that supports startups through mentorship and funding, whereas a startup founder is an individual who creates and manages a startup. While Y Combinator participants are often founders, not all founders participate in Y Combinator. The roles differ mainly in scope: Y Combinator provides resources and guidance, while founders are responsible for building and scaling their businesses.

What is Y Combinator?

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that provides seed funding, mentorship, and resources to early-stage startups. Founded in 2005, it has helped launch and support hundreds of successful companies by investing in them and guiding them through a structured program. Startups receive funding in exchange for equity and participate in a three-month program that culminates in a Demo Day, where they present their progress to investors. Y Combinator is known for its strong network of alumni and access to experienced founders and investors. The program is highly competitive, and applications are accepted from startups around the world.

What are the main responsibilities of someone working at Y Combinator, and how do they collaborate with startup founders?

At Y Combinator, team members typically mentor and advise early-stage startups, helping founders refine their business models, prepare for investor pitches, and navigate growth challenges. Much of the work involves direct collaboration with founders, including one-on-one meetings, group office hours, and workshops. Employees often work closely with other experts and partners within YC to provide specialized guidance in areas like product development, fundraising, and scaling operations. The environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving, teamwork, and supporting founders at critical stages of their startup journey.

Is it hard to get into Y Combinator?

Getting into Y Combinator as a startup involves a competitive application process that evaluates team strength, product potential, and market fit. While there is no formal barrier, successful applicants typically demonstrate strong execution skills and innovative ideas, and the selection rate is relatively low compared to total applicants.

What jobs pay $10,000 a month without a degree?

High-paying jobs that can reach $10,000 a month without a degree include roles such as software developers, sales managers, real estate brokers, and skilled trades like electricians or plumbers. Success in these fields often depends on experience, skills, certifications, or entrepreneurial efforts rather than formal education.

Are Y Combinator jobs well-paid?

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that offers funding and mentorship rather than direct employment, so job pay varies widely depending on the company and role. For jobs within YC-backed startups, salaries are typically competitive for the tech industry and often include equity options, but they can differ based on experience and location.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Y Combinator Partner, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Y Combinator Partner, you need deep experience in entrepreneurship, startup investment, and business strategy, typically supported by a track record of successful startups or investments. Familiarity with startup evaluation tools, portfolio management software, and financial modeling systems is important. Exceptional mentorship abilities, strong communication, and a collaborative mindset help partners guide founders and build trust. These skills are essential for identifying high-potential startups, providing valuable guidance, and contributing to the accelerator’s continued success.
More about Y Combinator jobs
What cities are hiring for Y Combinator jobs? Cities with the most Y Combinator job openings:
What states have the most Y Combinator jobs? States with the most job openings for Y Combinator jobs include:
Software Product Design Engineer

Software Product Design Engineer

Y Combinator

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$250K - $500K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Build polished, thoughtful product experiences at YC
Y Combinator builds the software that runs YC - internal tools used by partners and founders, public products used by the broader startup ecosystem, and AI-powered systems that automate complex workflows. Our team is small, the impact is large, and we ship real product to real users frequently.
We're looking for a Software Product Design Engineer - someone who lives at the intersection of design and engineering. You'll design beautiful user experiences, translate high-fidelity mocks into production code, and proactively elevate existing interfaces with thoughtful detail and interactions.
What you'll do
Design compelling, clear UI/UX and produce high-quality mocks that demonstrate strong product taste.
  • Turn design mocks (yours or others') into pixel-perfect, production-ready frontends using modern web tech.
  • Iterate on existing interfaces by improving layout, interaction quality, motion, and design consistency.
  • Work closely with engineers, partners, and stakeholders - you'll own the design and implementation of features end-to-end.
  • Rapidly prototype and "vibe code" to explore ideas, gather feedback, and iterate quickly.
  • Contribute to design systems, component libraries, and patterns that raise the bar for frontend quality across YC.
  • Stay close to users: talk to them, watch how they use the product, and improve the experience based on real signals.

What we're looking for
  • Strong UX and visual design skills with proven taste and craftsmanship.
  • Frontend engineering experience - comfort building real UI in React, TypeScript, and modern CSS.
  • Ability to move fluidly between design tools (Figma, etc.) and frontend code.
  • A "get things done" mindset: you ship quickly, iterate based on feedback, and take ownership.
  • Someone who cares deeply about polish - from typography and spacing to micro-interactions and transitions.
  • Comfort with ambiguity: you'll often define your own scope and drive things forward with little direction.

Nice to have
  • Experience building or maintaining design systems.
  • Contributions to open source UI libraries or design resources.
  • Background in internal tools, admin dashboards, or developer-facing products.

Why this role at YC
At YC, engineers own projects end-to-end - from the early sketches and prototypes to deployed code used by partners, investors, and founders. We work on a small, tight-knit team where your decisions matter, and you'll ship real product quickly, often interacting directly with users. You'll also be plugged into the heartbeat of the startup ecosystem, surrounded by founders and builders working on the hardest problems.
This is a unique opportunity to combine design taste, frontend craftsmanship, and real product impact in a role with broad autonomy and high visibility.
Location: This is an in-person role at YC's campus in Dogpatch, San Francisco. This is where our users (founders, partners, and employees) are five days a week, so it's optimal for you to be here with them. You must live in the SF Bay Area or be willing to relocate. We offer generous relocation support for those who want to move to SF to work here.
Compensation: $250K to $500K base salary, depending on experience. YC has a profit-sharing program, which is comparable to equity in an early-stage startup or carry in a VC fund.
Benefits: Our full benefits package includes medical, vision, and dental plans, infertility benefit, STD/LTD, life insurance, commuter benefits, flexible spending account, health savings account, 401(k) + 4% matching, generous parental leave, paid holidays, and flexible paid time off policy.
Work Authorization: Y Combinator is willing to sponsor certain employment visas in accordance with company policy.
Legal note: Y Combinator considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law, including San Francisco's Fair Chance Ordinance. Y Combinator is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of job applicants and complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act. The privacy policy of Ashby, Inc., the hiring platform used by Y Combinator, governs the collection of such data and can be found here.