Founding Engineer

Founding EngineerEarly-Stage AI + Cloud Infrastructure Startup | San FranciscoHarrison Clarke is partnering with a well-funded, early-stage startup at the intersection of cloud infrastructure, data systems, and AI. They are building foundational technology that will power the next generation of intelligent applications.We are seeking a Founding Engineer - one of the very first few technical hires - to join this ambitious founding team in San Francisco.About the RoleAs a Founding Engineer, you will work directly with the founders to define the technical direction and build core systems from the ground up. This is a high-ownership role where your technical decisions will shape the company’s architecture, engineering culture, and long-term success.You’ll tackle complex, high-impact problems in areas such as:Distributed systems and high-performance cloud infrastructureLarge-scale data processing, storage, and query enginesAI/ML platform infrastructure, model serving, or agentic systemsObservability, reliability, and developer experience at the intersection of cloud and AIExpect significant autonomy and the opportunity to work across the full stack - from low-level systems to rapid product iteration.Who We’re Looking ForWe are targeting exceptional engineers who graduated (or are graduating) from top computer science programs - Stanford, MIT, CMU, Berkeley, UIUC, Waterloo, and similar institutions - or have demonstrated equivalent caliber through elite experience.Key qualifications:Strong computer science fundamentals (algorithms, distributed systems, databases, computer networks)Hands-on experience with modern cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure), Kubernetes, or large-scale data/AI infrastructureA track record of shipping high-quality code quickly while maintaining long-term technical visionIntellectual curiosity, low ego, and genuine excitement for solving hard technical problemsComfort with ambiguity and a strong ownership mindsetPrior background in AI infrastructure, data systems, or cloud-native platforms is a plus, but we prioritize raw talent, engineering taste, and builder mentality above all.What’s On OfferSignificant founding-level equity with real upside potentialCompetitive salary and benefitsDirect influence on both product and technical roadmapThe opportunity to help build a category-defining company in the cloud + data + AI spaceIf you’re a high-caliber engineer who thrives on ownership, loves deep technical challenges, and wants your early-career work to have outsized impact, this is a rare opportunity.