What are the responsibilities and job description for the Founding Engineer position at Harnham?
Founding Engineer
$200k - $250k
Onsite in New York, NY (Soho)
The Company
We are working with a early-stage investor and venture studio operating across the US and Europe, focused on rapidly building and launching new products. The team ships MVPs at high speed, invests heavily in emerging technologies, and experiments across areas such as AI, robotics, wearables, and next-generation consumer products. The environment is small, hands-on, and centered around builders who thrive in fast-moving, iterative contexts.
The Role
This team is looking for a backend engineer who is excited to work onsite in NYC, building quickly alongside a small technical team. This role focuses on high-velocity execution, rapid prototyping, and leveraging AI tools to accelerate development. If you are someone who has experience building and shipping MVPs at a high volume, this role could be a great fit!
Responsibilities
• Build and maintain backend systems that enable rapid product development
• Use AI tools and LLM integrations to speed up engineering workflows and accelerate MVP delivery
• Prototype quickly; turn ideas into working products within days
• Iterate constantly, including rewriting or rethinking approaches as needed
• Collaborate closely with designers, founders, and engineers across locations
• Aggregate data, automate processes, and connect backend systems to AI/LLM components
Your Experience
• Strong backend engineering skills and solid fundamentals
• Proven commercial experience preferred, but open to exceptional recent grads with strong portfolios
• Experience building personal projects, startup side projects, or independent prototypes
• Ability to operate independently without hand-holding
• Comfort with ambiguity and frequent direction changes
• High enthusiasm, curiosity, and energy; calm confidence paired with drive
• Hands-on experience using AI tools or integrating LLMs
• Preference for candidates with clear growth trajectories and strong project-based experience
• Avoids purely big-tech backgrounds or long employment gaps
Tech Stack
• Python
• Swift (depending on project collaboration needs)
• AI tooling and LLM APIs
• Modern backend frameworks and systems
• Tools that enhance build speed, automation, and developer efficiency
Benefits
• Competitive compensation
• Onsite environment in NYC with flexibility for occasional remote work
• High-impact role with direct influence on product direction and outcomes
Keywords
Backend Engineer, AI Engineering, LLM Integration, Python, Rapid Prototyping, MVP Development, Startup Builder, High-Velocity Engineering, NYC Engineer, AI Tools, Automation, Data Aggregation
How to Apply
Please submit your resume to be considered.
Salary : $200,000 - $250,000