Founding Engineer - job 1 of 2

Founding Engineer

Location: New York City, NY (100% On-site)

Compensation: $150,000 - $250,000 (Base Salary) + Significant Early-Stage Equity

We are an early-stage, YC-backed company building the future clean data layer for the internet, starting with financial firms. Our platform solves complex data cleaning, extraction, and validation problems by combining advanced AI (LLMs) with expert human review via a simple API. We're looking for a highly capable and driven Founding Engineer to join us and help build the core of our platform from the ground up. This role offers an opportunity for the right candidate to grow into a CTO-level position.

As a Founding Engineer, you will take ownership of critical systems that drive our product, working across the entire stack. You will directly influence our product strategy and technical direction, experiencing the full arc of building a successful startup.

What you'll do:

• System Architecture: Design, build, and scale our core data extraction, retrieval, and validation systems.
• Full Stack Delivery: Work across the stack, including the Python backend, complex LLM/data pipelines, and TypeScript UIs, to deliver polished, production-ready features.
• AI Optimization: Architect and optimize our AI-powered workflows for maximum speed, accuracy, and reliability, including experimenting with and fine-tuning LLMs for real-world data challenges.
• Automation & Tooling: Build internal tools and automation to dramatically increase the efficiency of our engineering and data review processes.
• Strategic Collaboration: Work in lockstep with the founder and early team to define the product roadmap, establish technical standards, and drive key business decisions.

• Experience: 2+ years of full-time experience in full stack, backend, or infrastructure engineering (not including internships).
• Engineering Fundamentals: Strong software engineering fundamentals and the ability to operate effectively across backend, data, and UI layers.
• Core Stack: Experience in Python, and familiarity with TypeScript and/or a strong willingness to learn quickly.
• AI Excitement: Genuine excitement about working with AI and LLMs in a demanding production setting to solve real-world data challenges.
• Startup DNA: Comfort with ambiguity and a proven ability to take full ownership of a feature, from initial idea through to a shipped product.
• Team Fit: A mix of high competence, strong work ethic, eagerness to learn, and kindness—we prioritize building a smart and collaborative team.

• Equity Upside: Competitive early-stage equity that can be significantly higher than typical for a candidate who can immediately take on or grow into a CTO role.
• Compensation: Highly competitive salary range of $150,000 - $250,000, commensurate with experience.
• Impact: The opportunity to be a crucial early team member and define the foundation of a product aiming to be the clean data layer for everyone.
• Work Policy: 100% On-site work, 5 days a week, in our New York City office to maximize collaborative speed and learning.
• Visa Support: No visa sponsorship is available for this position.
• Interview: An expedited interview process that includes a paid, in-person work trial for US candidates (or a take-home project for visa holders).

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing [email protected].

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