Founding Engineer (Backend / Fintech Infrastructure)
About The Position
We are looking for a hands-on, product-driven Founding Engineer to join as the first full-time technical hire at an early-stage fintech startup. This role is ideal for a backend-leaning engineer who thrives in zero-to-one environments and wants significant ownership over architecture, product direction, and team build-out. You will work directly with the founder and external contractors to deliver the MVP, while shaping long-term technical strategy and infrastructure decisions. The position requires strong systems thinking and experience building high-throughput, auditable financial systems. Over time, you will transition from individual contributor to technical leader, helping recruit and mentor the internal engineering team. This is a high-impact role for someone excited to build modern payment rails integrating stablecoins and working capital solutions.
Requirements
- 2–7 years of engineering experience with a backend focus
- Strong experience with Node.js and TypeScript
- Experience with Next.js (React knowledge is a plus)
- Experience launching and scaling v1 fintech or payment products
- Experience building high-throughput, auditable financial systems
- Strong understanding of distributed systems and backend architecture
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous early-stage environments
- Experience managing external vendors or contractors is a plus
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Rust or TigerBeetle
- Background working with modern fintech/payment infrastructure providers
- Experience building payment ledgers, reconciliation systems, or stablecoin payout infrastructure
- Prior founding or early-stage startup experience
Responsibilities
- Partner closely with the founder and external contractors to deliver the MVP (first 3–6 months)
- Own backend architecture and inform both high-level and low-level system design
- Review and deliver production-grade code with strong quality standards
- Manage external engineering contractors and ensure milestone-based delivery
- Design and implement fintech/payment systems including ledgers, reconciliation, stablecoin payouts, and coverage checks
- Build distributed data models with strong auditability and separation of concerns
- Maintain high standards for performance, compliance, and system integrity
- Help recruit, onboard, and mentor future engineering hires
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product, compliance, risk, and go-to-market stakeholders
- Ship fast, iterate based on partner feedback, and improve continuously
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
