sierra-studio - Founding Engineer
Requirements
• 5–6 years of full-stack software engineering experience, with strong system architecture knowledge across front-end and back-end. • Strong professional experience with Python, FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Alembic, WebSockets, and modern React frameworks such as Next.js. • Strong SQL skills and hands-on experience designing, querying, and optimizing PostgreSQL databases. • Experience designing relational databases and managing schema changes through Alembic migrations. • Experience building or maintaining real-time applications using WebSockets. • Proven experience writing and maintaining unit and integration tests, with a focus on building reliable, well-tested software. • Experience deploying and operating applications in cloud environments (experience with Railway is a plus). • Basic knowledge of AI/LLM technologies (e.g., OpenAI APIs, prompt engineering, retrieval, or AI-powered product features) is a plus, as we'll be building AI capabilities into the product over time. • Founder mindset — someone who challenges ideas, proposes better solutions, and takes ownership rather than simply executing tickets. • Experience building products from 0 to 1 in startup environments, comfortable moving quickly and wearing multiple hats. • Organized, proactive, and highly logical communicator. • Strong written and verbal English for daily collaboration with the founder. • Personal projects or side builds that show initiative and range. • Regular use of AI tools in day-to-day engineering work. • Location: remote, based in Brazil. Expect a hybrid rhythm for some time in the early months — the founder will be making frequent trips to Brazil to work alongside you in person as the product and team take shape. • 📋 HIRING PROCESS • 1. Initial screening • 2. Pair coding session • 3. Technical interview • 4. Executive interview • Compensation: $6,000–$8,000 USD/month + an equity grant (share count and fully diluted total shared during the process).
Responsibilities
• Audit, improve, and take full ownership of the product's existing codebase and architecture. • Build and ship features end-to-end using Python, FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Alembic, WebSockets, and Next.js, making decisions across the entire stack. • Design and evolve the database schema, writing and maintaining Alembic migrations alongside SQLAlchemy models. • Build and maintain real-time features using WebSockets where appropriate. • Own infrastructure and deployment workflows on Railway, ensuring the platform remains reliable and scalable. • Write and maintain unit and integration tests to ensure the reliability and long-term maintainability of the product. • Work hand-in-hand with the founder daily, translating vision into shipped product. • Set technical direction and engineering best practices as the team's first engineer — your standards become the team's standards. • Collaborate with and mentor other developers as the engineering team grows.
Benefits
• This is a rare opportunity to be the founding engineer of a company from day one — real ownership over architecture, product, and team culture starting with the very first hire. You'll be part of Sierra Studio's talent network, with access to continuous learning and a strong community of engineers, while working directly inside a founder-led startup at its earliest, highest-impact stage.
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