Product Engineer

📋 Description

• • Katapult Labs is at the forefront of empowering U.S. startups by connecting them with exceptional talent from Latin America and leveraging cutting-edge technology. Our AI-first approach is dedicated to building world-class solutions across product development, engineering, and business growth. We pride ourselves on partnering with visionary founders from esteemed networks such as 8VC and Action Capital, who are seasoned operators driving venture-backed innovation.
• • We are seeking a highly motivated and proactive Product Engineer, often referred to as a Founding-Style Engineer, to join our dynamic team. This role is designed for individuals who thrive in a high-performance, founder-engineer environment and are eager to act as a true force multiplier. If you are someone who prefers to be a strategic partner in building custom web and AI systems for our mid-market clients, rather than simply executing tasks, this is the opportunity for you.
• • As a Product Engineer at Katapult Labs, you will be entrusted with end-to-end delivery ownership. This means you will be empowered to make critical, opinionated architectural decisions and operate with a high degree of agency and autonomy. Our philosophy prioritizes speed, a willingness to experiment and tinker, and genuine interest in solving problems over extensive corporate scaling experience. We are less concerned with the complexities of scaling Kubernetes or intricate AWS infrastructure and more focused on rapidly shipping high-impact features that address genuine business challenges through a modern, AI-native workflow.
• • Your primary responsibility will be to own features from their inception, starting with the initial domain model, through development, and all the way to production deployment. The focus will be on delivering user-centric functionality that directly aligns with business objectives, moving beyond the mere act of writing code. You will be expected to deeply understand the problem space and the desired business outcomes.
• • A core aspect of this role involves leveraging Artificial Intelligence as your primary tool. You will utilize AI assistants like Claude Code and Codex as powerful allies for coding, refactoring existing codebases, and executing complex migrations. The goal is to achieve a significant increase in productivity, aiming for a 10x output improvement without compromising the correctness and quality of the delivered software.
• • We champion a philosophy of shipping fast by concentrating on the most impactful and "actional functional aspects" of the software. This includes implementing high-leverage tests that focus on critical areas such as financial transactions, permission systems, and core user workflows, rather than pursuing exhaustive test coverage for its own sake. The emphasis is on delivering value quickly and efficiently.
• • You will work in close collaboration with the founding team, translating often vague or high-level requirements into precise, deterministic, and predictable software primitives. This requires a strong ability to clarify ambiguity and define concrete technical specifications.
• • Problem-solving is at the heart of this role. You should possess the confidence and capability to tackle challenges independently. This includes being comfortable connecting to databases like Supabase, debugging intricate React hooks, or navigating other technical hurdles without immediate reliance on external guidance. Your questions should be reserved for the most complex business logic or architectural dilemmas, demonstrating a high level of self-sufficiency.
• • You will be instrumental in building custom web and AI systems, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for our mid-market clients. This involves a hands-on approach to software development, where your technical expertise directly translates into tangible business value.
• • The ideal candidate will embrace a "tinkering" mindset, comfortable with rapid prototyping and iterative development. You should be adept at quickly mocking up solutions and exploring different approaches to find the most effective path forward, often without the need for overly detailed specifications.
• • This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the technical direction and product strategy of client projects, working in a fast-paced, agile environment where your contributions have a direct and visible impact. You will be a key player in a team that values innovation, efficiency, and a deep understanding of both technology and business needs.