What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Principal Engineer position at Jenn Nguyen and Friends?
Lead Principal Engineer (Head of Engineering)
Who Are We?
We are a VC-backed, fast-growing tech company that has developed a product used by over 1.8 million engineers worldwide. Our platform has historically been profitable due to strong customer traction, and we have recently raised a $2M funding round to integrate AI and scale globally.
What's in It for You?
Competitive salary range of $180,000 - $230,000
Leadership role reporting directly to the CEO with full ownership of engineering
Hybrid work model (M/W/F in-office, relocation assistance available for top candidates)
Work on a mission-driven product with high impact in the engineering community
Opportunity to hire, grow, and shape the engineering team
Exposure to AI, cloud infrastructure, and a high-performance startup environment
What Will You Do?
Technical Development
Own all software development and architecture, serving as the primary technical leader
Write code, troubleshoot, and lead architecture design across our stack (PostgreSQL, Python, Django, JavaScript, Vue/React, HTML, CSS)
Solve scaling challenges, optimize APIs for speed and reliability, and manage cloud infrastructure (Heroku, Azure, AWS)
Plan and execute sprints, write and review technical specifications, and track engineering performance metrics
Implement best practices to maintain technical excellence and high development velocity
Management
Recruit, onboard, and mentor a high-performing engineering team
Drive a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
Manage KPIs, OKRs, and sprint goals to measure and drive performance
Serve as the primary point of contact for all engineering decisions
Long-Term Planning
Define and own the technical roadmap for scalability, AI integration, and future infrastructure needs
Proactively identify and mitigate software challenges to ensure reliability and long-term growth
Collaborate cross-functionally with product, operations, and leadership to align engineering initiatives with business goals
What Will You Need?
5 years of software engineering experience with a track record of building scalable, high-performance applications
2 years of leadership experience as the top engineering decision-maker in a seed-stage startup
Expertise in Python, Django, REST APIs, microservices, and PostgreSQL
Front-end development experience in Vue, Angular, or React
Strong generalist who can work across FE, BE, Data, and DevOps, with the ability to balance speed and quality
Experience managing remote and international engineering teams
Ability to pass an IC coding interview (50% hands-on coding to start in this role)
Must-Have Criteria
Candidates Must Meet All Of The Following Criteria
Owned all engineering in a seed-stage startup within the last 5 years (not co-owned)
2 years of leadership experience with full product ownership
Strong generalist with deep technical expertise across FE/BE/Data/DevOps
Experience in fast-moving environments, balancing speed and quality
Nice to Have
Experience with desktop application development
Familiarity with AI tech stacks and CAD software
Background in electronic circuit design or electrical engineering
Experience working on software products integrating other science and technology fields
What's in It for You?
Competitive salary range of $180,000 - $230,000
Leadership role reporting directly to the CEO with full ownership of engineering
Hybrid work model (M/W/F in-office, relocation assistance available for top candidates)
Work on a mission-driven product with high impact in the engineering community
Opportunity to hire, grow, and shape the engineering team
Exposure to AI, cloud infrastructure, and a high-performance startup environment
Who Are We?
We are a VC-backed, fast-growing tech company that has developed a product used by over 1.8 million engineers worldwide. Our platform has historically been profitable due to strong customer traction, and we have recently raised a $2M funding round to integrate AI and scale globally.
What's in It for You?
Competitive salary range of $180,000 - $230,000
Leadership role reporting directly to the CEO with full ownership of engineering
Hybrid work model (M/W/F in-office, relocation assistance available for top candidates)
Work on a mission-driven product with high impact in the engineering community
Opportunity to hire, grow, and shape the engineering team
Exposure to AI, cloud infrastructure, and a high-performance startup environment
What Will You Do?
Technical Development
Own all software development and architecture, serving as the primary technical leader
Write code, troubleshoot, and lead architecture design across our stack (PostgreSQL, Python, Django, JavaScript, Vue/React, HTML, CSS)
Solve scaling challenges, optimize APIs for speed and reliability, and manage cloud infrastructure (Heroku, Azure, AWS)
Plan and execute sprints, write and review technical specifications, and track engineering performance metrics
Implement best practices to maintain technical excellence and high development velocity
Management
Recruit, onboard, and mentor a high-performing engineering team
Drive a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
Manage KPIs, OKRs, and sprint goals to measure and drive performance
Serve as the primary point of contact for all engineering decisions
Long-Term Planning
Define and own the technical roadmap for scalability, AI integration, and future infrastructure needs
Proactively identify and mitigate software challenges to ensure reliability and long-term growth
Collaborate cross-functionally with product, operations, and leadership to align engineering initiatives with business goals
What Will You Need?
5 years of software engineering experience with a track record of building scalable, high-performance applications
2 years of leadership experience as the top engineering decision-maker in a seed-stage startup
Expertise in Python, Django, REST APIs, microservices, and PostgreSQL
Front-end development experience in Vue, Angular, or React
Strong generalist who can work across FE, BE, Data, and DevOps, with the ability to balance speed and quality
Experience managing remote and international engineering teams
Ability to pass an IC coding interview (50% hands-on coding to start in this role)
Must-Have Criteria
Candidates Must Meet All Of The Following Criteria
Owned all engineering in a seed-stage startup within the last 5 years (not co-owned)
2 years of leadership experience with full product ownership
Strong generalist with deep technical expertise across FE/BE/Data/DevOps
Experience in fast-moving environments, balancing speed and quality
Nice to Have
Experience with desktop application development
Familiarity with AI tech stacks and CAD software
Background in electronic circuit design or electrical engineering
Experience working on software products integrating other science and technology fields
What's in It for You?
Competitive salary range of $180,000 - $230,000
Leadership role reporting directly to the CEO with full ownership of engineering
Hybrid work model (M/W/F in-office, relocation assistance available for top candidates)
Work on a mission-driven product with high impact in the engineering community
Opportunity to hire, grow, and shape the engineering team
Exposure to AI, cloud infrastructure, and a high-performance startup environment
Salary : $180,000 - $230,000
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