Software Engineer

Volunteer for a startup promoting fairer renting 🏠

Houstory

We empower renters with transparent, unit-specific landlord and housing histories to promote equitable renting.

Houstory addresses the systemic information black hole in the rental market, which creates immense anxiety and unfairness for renters, driven by lasting discriminatory practices like redlining and gentrification. Renters often lack reliable, unit-specific information, leading to insecure housing and a loss of community feeling. This challenge was identified through personal experiences in areas like Queens, New York, and among new hires in other regions.

The solution is a platform (app and website) designed to bring transparency to renting. Houstory delivers comprehensive insights into housing and landlord history, focusing on unit-specific details such as landlord responsiveness, maintenance issues, pests, and building violations. Drawing on a decade of HR experience, the core approach is people-centered to create a more trustworthy and equitable housing market where potential tenants have the necessary knowledge to secure safe and fair homes.

Role (Volunteer): Software Engineer

Role Description:

The Role: Architect of the MVP

The MVP Engineer will act as the lead technical architect for Houstory's Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This is a high-impact, volunteer technical position for an engineer committed to translating a core social mission into a functional, scalable application. You will not be coding in a silo; you will work directly alongside the Founder and UI/UX designers to bridge the gap between visual design and technical reality. This role is focused on rapidly building and testing the initial cross-platform application using the FlutterFlow & Firebase ecosystem, securing the technical foundation for future growth.

Key Responsibilities: Intentional Strategy and Execution The person in this role must embody the same intentionality and strategic discipline that defines Houstory.

1. FlutterFlow & Firebase Architecture

• MVP Implementation: Rapidly build the core mobile and web application MVP using FlutterFlow. You will focus on essential features like user-generated content submission and the display of public data feeds.
• Backend Engineering: Design and maintain the application's backend infrastructure utilizing Firebase (Firestore). This includes effective data modeling for complex features like property reviews, landlord history, and eviction data.
• Custom Logic: Develop custom functions in Dart where native FlutterFlow limitations exist, ensuring the app is robust and scalable.

2. UI/UX Collaboration & Implementation

• Design-to-Code Translation: Collaborate closely with the UI/UX team to translate high-fidelity Figma prototypes into pixel-perfect, responsive FlutterFlow components.
• User Journey Optimization: Work with the team to ensure the "happy path" for renters is intuitive. You will provide technical feedback on designs to ensure feasibility within the low-code environment without sacrificing user experience.

3. API Integration & Data Strategy

• Data Integration: Integrate third-party APIs to pull public housing data (e.g., building violations, court records) directly into the application.

Required Skills: Technical Mastery Meets Strategic Fit A. Essential Technical Requirements

• FlutterFlow Mastery: Proven proficiency with FlutterFlow and the underlying Flutter/Dart framework.
• Firebase Expertise: Deep experience with Firebase services, specifically Firestore (NoSQL database modeling) and Authentication.
• UI/UX Fluency: Experience working with Figma and a strong eye for detail when translating designs into functional applications.
• API Knowledge: Strong understanding of RESTful API integration and asynchronous programming.

B. Strategic & Cultural Add

• Lean Mindset: A focus on "building to learn"—delivering the core value proposition quickly to test and refine.
• Mission Alignment: A strong belief in the Houstory mission of Transparency and Empowerment. You understand that we are not just building an app; we are building a tool for equity.

Why Join Houstory: Strategic Impact and Professional Gain Joining Houstory at this foundational stage offers a unique volunteer opportunity to gain strategic experience.

1. Direct Impact: Your work will directly result in the launch of the Houstory MVP, turning a vision of housing transparency into a tangible reality.

2. Portfolio Building: You will quickly build a portfolio of high-value, launched product features and a functioning cross-platform application.

3. Authentic Leadership: You will work directly with Founder LP, gaining insight into building a business with intentionality. We believe in leading with your whole self—your strengths, your weaknesses, and your unique story

Time Commitment: Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 1-2 months remotely.

️If you want to make change happen, apply to volunteer with Houstory!