Lead Software Engineer (Los Angeles, CA)
Founding engineer (first technical hire) at an early-stage aerospace software startup building an AI-powered platform that helps hardware teams move from concept to manufacturable design. Backend-focused with full product ownership using Python and LLM/agentic systems, extending to frontend and deployment. Fully remote within the US, working directly with the founder.
- Compensation
- $150K–$190K / yr
- Location
- Not listed
- Work setup
- Remote
- Seniority
- Lead
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- 13+ years
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- U.S. citizenship required; based in the United States
- Backend depth: designed and shipped production systems, translating user problems into data models, interfaces, runtimes, deployment, and measurable outcomes
- Python as primary language
- Strong product and architecture judgment, balancing speed, reliability, maintainability, and customer value
- Exceptional use of agentic coding tools, knowing when to delegate and how to review and verify agent output
- Production experience developing, deploying, and operating LLM-powered applications and agentic workflows
- Independent ownership and clear communication with a technical founder amid incomplete direction
Nice to have
- Experience in a regulated industry such as aerospace, defense, medical technology, or financial technology
- Prior early-stage startup experience
Full description
We are an early-stage aerospace engineering software company building an AI-powered platform to help hardware teams move from concept to manufacturable design 10–100x faster. Our approach transforms sequential engineering workflows into parallel processes, helping teams evaluate designs, make decisions, and prepare for manufacturing more efficiently.
We are developing the platform alongside aerospace companies solving complex, mission-critical engineering challenges on demanding timelines.
The founder brings 13 years of hardware development leadership at SpaceX, Relativity, and Lilium. The company is advancing its approach through a NASA SBIR Ignite Phase I program and commercial aerospace and defense work.
The role
This is a full-time founding engineer opportunity beginning with a paid working period.
- One-month paid working period, followed by a full-time offer.
- Meaningful equity as part of the expected full-time package.
- First technical employee, working directly with the founder.
You will be the founder’s software counterpart, taking ownership of building and shipping the platform. The founder brings product vision, aerospace hardware expertise, and direct feedback from engineering customers. You bring the software engineering depth, architectural judgment, and execution needed to turn that vision into a reliable product.
This role offers significant ownership and growth potential in an early-stage environment where priorities evolve and requirements are often incomplete.
The initial focus is backend development, with responsibility extending to frontend functionality, deployment, and overall product delivery. You will also work with the founder to establish an AI-enabled software development process, with substantial freedom to select and build the agentic coding tools that support the company’s growth.
Who we’re looking for
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Backend depth with whole-product judgment. You have designed and shipped production systems and can translate a user problem into a data model, interface, runtime, deployment, and measurable outcome. Python is the primary language today, with room to shape future technology decisions.
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A relentless product builder. You understand the broader customer problem, make progress amid ambiguity, and iterate based on real customer needs. You take ownership of outcomes from initial concept through delivery.
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Strong product and architecture judgment. You evaluate whether the team is building the right solution before optimizing implementation. You balance speed, reliability, maintainability, and customer value.