Product Engineer

📋 Description

• • Katapult Labs is at the forefront of revolutionizing how U.S. startups scale by harnessing the power of exceptional Latin American talent and 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, supporting experienced operators in their quest to build high-impact, venture-backed companies.
• • We are actively seeking a Product Engineer, a Founding-Style Engineer, to join our dynamic team as a crucial force multiplier. This role is designed for a high-performance individual within a founder-engineer-centric environment. We are not looking for passive 'ticket-takers'; instead, we seek proactive individuals who will act as true partners in the development of custom web and AI systems tailored for our mid-market clientele. Your responsibilities will encompass the entire end-to-end delivery lifecycle, demanding opinionated architectural decisions and the exercise of extreme agency.
• • Our philosophy prioritizes speed, a spirit of experimentation ('tinkering'), and genuine interest over extensive corporate scaling experience. We are less concerned with the intricacies of scaling Kubernetes or complex AWS infrastructure and more focused on rapidly shipping high-impact features that directly address and solve real business problems. This is achieved through a modern, AI-native workflow that amplifies developer productivity and creativity.
• • A core aspect of this role is to own features from their inception, starting with the initial domain model definition all the way through to production deployment. The emphasis will be on creating user-centric functionality and achieving critical business goals, rather than merely writing code in isolation. You will leverage AI tools, specifically mentioning Claude Code and Codex, as your primary power tools for coding, sophisticated refactoring, and seamless migrations. The objective is to achieve a tenfold increase in output without compromising the correctness or quality of the delivered solutions.
• • We champion shipping fast by concentrating on 'actionable functional aspects' and implementing high-leverage tests. This strategic approach means focusing on critical areas such as financial transactions, permission systems, and core workflows, rather than pursuing exhaustive 90% test coverage for its own sake. This efficiency allows us to iterate quickly and deliver value.
• • You will work in close collaboration with the founding team, translating potentially vague requirements into deterministic, predictable software primitives. Your ability to take an abstract problem and independently devise and implement a robust solution is paramount. You should feel comfortable connecting to databases like Supabase or debugging intricate React hooks without requiring step-by-step guidance, reserving your questions for complex business logic challenges.
• • This role demands a 'scrappy' profile with a strong bias toward action. We highly value younger, high-agency talent who have demonstrated initiative through building side projects, developing indie applications, or contributing meaningfully to open-source software (OSS). Your experience should reflect a proactive and self-driven approach to software development.
• • Proficiency in TypeScript and a solid understanding of the modern web stack, including frameworks like React/Next.js and database technologies such as PostgreSQL (or similar relational databases), are essential. A critical requirement is the daily utilization of AI tools, particularly a workflow that integrates Claude Code and Codex for handling complex tasks end-to-end. We expect you to cross-check outputs from multiple AI models to ensure optimal speed and accuracy; failing to do so indicates a slower pace than we aim for.
• • You must be able to present and explain 2-3 concrete projects where you took ownership of the full stack. This includes clearly articulating the domain model, the architectural decisions made, and the specific trade-offs you encountered and navigated.
• • Excellent communication skills are vital. You must be able to converse in 'plain language' with business stakeholders, concisely explaining technical constraints and solutions. We do not require hyper-detailed specifications; instead, you should thrive in the 'tinkering' phase, rapidly prototyping and mocking up solutions to explore possibilities and gather feedback.
• • Experience with technologies such as Convex, Drizzle, or Supabase is considered a valuable asset. Furthermore, personal projects involving Knowledge Graphs, Openclaw, or the development of independent AI agents would be highly regarded, showcasing your passion and initiative in advanced technological domains.
• • We hold a pragmatic view on architecture, believing that monoliths can often be the optimal choice for achieving speed and simplicity in certain contexts. Your willingness to consider and advocate for such approaches is a plus.
• • Finally, a practical demonstration of your skills is part of our process. You may be asked to perform a live AI-assisted coding test, such as completing a condensed pull request or a partial migration task, to showcase your workflow and proficiency in real-time.