Founding Engineer

Clera

Lithuania +27 more

Remote

Who this role is best for

Founding engineers with full-stack experience and a track record in AI agent systems will find this remote-to-San Francisco role with a startup focused on AI infrastructure for service businesses.

Best fit for

Candidates with experience building AI systems in production and a history of end-to-end project ownership
— “Experience building and running LLM or AI agent systems in production, with real users relying on them.”
Individuals who have evolved products from prototypes to scalable systems and can guide engineering growth
— “Experience turning prototypes into dependable systems through sound architecture, data models, runtime design, and orchestration.”
Engineers comfortable with broad technical responsibilities and willing to relocate to San Francisco
— “Based in Europe and willing to relocate to San Francisco within the first year.”

Things to consider

Relocation to San Francisco is expected within the first year, which may require significant personal and financial planning
— “relocate to San Francisco within the first year.”
The role demands a generalist approach, requiring cross-functional skills in backend, frontend, and AI agent systems
— “Full-stack range, including the ability to work across backend, infrastructure, and user interfaces.”

How to stand out

Emphasize your ability to own technical decisions and deliver quickly in independent or early-stage environments
— “Evidence of owning technical decisions and delivering quickly in an early-stage or independent environment.”
Demonstrate expertise in agent runtime systems, such as orchestration and verification, to align with the role's core responsibilities
— “Build and operate the agent runtime, including orchestration, memory, verification, and supporting systems.”
Showcase your ability to work across technical domains, with a focus on backend, infrastructure, and frontend contributions
— “Take projects end to end across backend, infrastructure, frontend, and AI agents.”
Include specific examples of shipping production software or leading technical direction in a startup or solo capacity
— “At least 2 years of experience shipping production software, or an equivalent record as a founder, solo builder, or exceptional early-career engineer.”

Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

developed scalable infrastructure
shipped improvements to users
set technical standards

Typical background

2+ years of production software experienceLLM or AI agent systems experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Full-stack DevelopmentLLM SystemsAI Agent SystemsArchitectureData ModelsRuntime DesignOrchestration

Preferred

Agent WorkflowsMemoryEvaluationsVerification

Stack & domain

LLMAI Agent SystemsBackendInfrastructureFrontendAgent WorkflowsMemoryEvaluationsVerificationOwnershipDeliveryAmbitionCommitmentAccountabilityAI

About the role

Original posting from Clera via Ashby

ABOUT THE ROLE
Join an early-stage AI infrastructure startup as its first engineer. You will work directly with the founder to evolve a functioning product into scalable infrastructure for AI-powered service businesses, with broad ownership across the product and its technical direction.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Develop the architecture and infrastructure needed to scale the product to a large user base.
Build and operate the agent runtime, including orchestration, memory, verification, and supporting systems.
Take projects end to end across backend, infrastructure, frontend, and AI agents.
Set technical standards and guide how the engineering team builds as it grows.
Ship improvements regularly to users operating real businesses.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
At least 2 years of experience shipping production software, or an equivalent record as a founder, solo builder, or exceptional early-career engineer.
Experience building and running LLM or AI agent systems in production, with real users relying on them.
Full-stack range, including the ability to work across backend, infrastructure, and user interfaces.
Experience turning prototypes into dependable systems through sound architecture, data models, runtime design, and orchestration.
Evidence of owning technical decisions and delivering quickly in an early-stage or independent environment.
Strong generalist engineering skills and practical experience with agent workflows, memory, evaluations, or verification are valuable.
Based in Europe and willing to relocate to San Francisco within the first year.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Base salary is €80,000 to €140,000 annually. Visa sponsorship and relocation support are available for a move to San Francisco.
LOCATION
Remote within Europe, with relocation to San Francisco expected within the first year.

Source: Clera careers (Ashby)