Founding Engineer / Full Stack Python / Onsite Chicago

Job Description We are seeking a Founding Engineer to play a pivotal role in shaping the technical foundation and culture of an early-stage company. Their mission is to modernize financial systems for nonprofits, equipping them with cutting-edge tools to improve operational efficiency and maximize their impact. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment, takes ownership of their work, and enjoys solving complex technical challenges in the nonprofit and fintech sectors.

As a key member of the team, you will work on impactful technology that empowers nonprofits to operate more effectively. You will thrive in a collaborative, in-person team environment in Chicago, working directly with company leadership. Your contributions will have an immediate impact on our success, with the potential to grow into a leadership role as we scale. If you’re excited by variety, ownership, and the opportunity to drive meaningful change in a fast-paced startup, this is the perfect role for you. Required Skills & Experience

• 4+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on backend or full-stack development
• Proficiency in at least two of the following areas within our tech stack: Python (FastAPI, Celery, SQLAlchemy), React (TanStack, Material UI), PostgreSQL, Redis.
• Familiarity with Ably, Twilio, SendGrid, Auth0, Stripe, AWS, and GitHub Actions.
• Ability to work independently on ambiguous technical challenges and deliver scalable, maintainable solutions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance technical feasibility with business priorities.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• A passion for learning, adaptability to new technologies, and a commitment to engineering excellence.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience designing and deploying cloud-based architectures.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, scalability, and performance optimization.
• Previous experience working in a startup or fast-paced, high-impact environment.
• Interest in or experience with financial systems, fintech, or nonprofit technology solutions.

What You Will Be Doing

• Designing and implementing scalable, maintainable systems to support business goals.
• Taking full ownership of features, guiding them from concept through deployment.
• Collaborating with the founding team to develop user-centric solutions that enhance nonprofit financial operations.
• Tackling complex engineering challenges and making strategic technical decisions.
• Helping establish and foster a strong engineering culture as one of the company’s first technical hires.

The Offer You will receive the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Equity 0.5%-1% to align with company growth and individual contributions

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis now and in the future.

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