Founding Engineer
Ansius (for a Confidential Client)
San Francisco, CA
Updated on September 9, 2026
- On-site
- Full-time
- Senior
- Artificial Intelligence / E-Commerce
- $160,000 - $200,000 per year
Job Description
Our client is seeking a highly skilled Founding Engineer to join their team as the first engineering hire. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the technical direction and engineering culture of a fast-moving, YC-backed startup focused on the future of AI-powered commerce. Our client provides an environment where the successful candidate will have significant ownership over product architecture, full-stack development, and the implementation of cutting-edge AI agent technologies. Our client expects the Founding Engineer to work directly with customers, translate feedback into shipped features, and build robust, scalable infrastructure from the ground up.
Requirements
Critical Requirements
- 3-7 years of professional software engineering experience
- Proven experience at a Series A, Series B, or fast-moving technology company
- Demonstrated experience building or working with AI agents and agent-based systems
- Strong full-stack proficiency with TypeScript, Node.js, Express, React, and Next.js
- Ability to independently ship features across the entire stack
- High agency, strong sense of ownership, and comfort with ambiguity
- Strong startup mindset with the willingness to wear multiple hats
Important Requirements
- Experience with PostgreSQL, Redis, and asynchronous systems
- Experience with browser automation, scraping, and retrieval infrastructure
- Experience with AI agent orchestration, context management, and evaluations
- Experience with production systems, observability, and workflow orchestration
Nice to Have Requirements
- Experience with MCP servers and developer tools
- Background in e-commerce, retail, search, attribution, or analytics
- Degree from a top-50 university
About
Our client is a YC-backed, early-stage AI company dedicated to building the future of AI-powered commerce. Our client helps retail brands succeed in the era of AI-driven shopping experiences. Our client offers a collaborative, high-growth environment and provides competitive benefits including unlimited PTO, health insurance, 401(k), and a Bay Club gym membership.
How your application is reviewed
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What happens next: This score is used for pre-screening. If your score meets the employer's review threshold, your application moves forward for recruiter review. If not, you still receive a clear result immediately.
Why this is useful: This is not simple keyword matching. Ansius uses AI to understand direct, implied, and indirect evidence in your CV, similar to how recruiters review applications during manual screening.
How your CV match score is calculated
Your score is based on evidence found in your CV against the job requirements. The analysis considers clear statements, related experience, and supporting context, not only exact keyword matches. Recruiters can include extra role-specific criteria in this job, so this result may differ from the public CV match tool.
Use this feedback for your next application
The match breakdown shows which requirements had strong evidence and which did not. You can use it to improve your CV for this role and for similar roles.