Founding Engineer (Frontend + Design)

📋 Description

• • A fast-moving, seed-stage AI startup is hiring its first Founding Engineer (Frontend + Design) to own the entire frontend stack for native macOS and iOS apps from the ground up, with a design-first, pixel-perfect philosophy at the core of everything you build.
• • As an early team member, you'll work directly alongside the founders and have outsized influence on product strategy, user experience, and company direction.
• • The product sits at the intersection of AI and human relationships — helping people stay on top of their communications, tasks, and personal organization through an intelligent, proactive assistant.
• • This role requires on-site presence in San Francisco and a high-intensity, startup-founder mindset.
• • Own frontend architecture, networking, and UI animations for native iOS and macOS apps.
• • Deliver pixel-perfect, accessible, design-focused UI across native Apple platforms.
• • Conduct user research and engage directly with users to inform product decisions.
• • Collaborate closely with design and backend teams to ship cohesive, polished experiences.
• • Contribute to product strategy and advocate strongly for the end user.
• • Build performant, maintainable code aligned with established design systems and SwiftUI patterns.
• • Must-haves:
• • Strong native Swift experience with MVVM architecture and the latest SwiftUI patterns — this is a dealbreaker requirement.
• • Proven ownership of frontend architecture, networking, and UI animations for iOS/macOS apps.
• • Experience with design tooling (e.g., Figma) and contributing to or working within design systems.
• • Pixel-perfect, design-focused approach with strong attention to detail and accessibility.
• • Strongly preferred:
• • Experience working at a founding-stage or early startup.
• • Ability to conduct user research and translate user feedback into product decisions.
• • Some exposure to the backend stack: Python, FastAPI, Supabase, AWS ECS, and Lambda.
• • Strong CS fundamentals and a demonstrated track record of solving hard, complex problems.
• • Located in San Francisco with the ability to work on-site; comfortable with a high-intensity work environment.
• • Compensation & Benefits:
• • Salary: $160,000 – $240,000 USD annually, depending on experience.
• • Early equity commensurate with founding team member status.
• • Visa sponsorship: Not available.
• • Location:
• • San Francisco, CA, USA — on-site required. This is not a remote or hybrid role.