Founding Software Engineer (Path to CTO)

Founding Software Engineer (Path to CTO)📍 Remote (Europe preferred) | ✈️ Regular travel to South America🏢 Partner Company – AgTech / IoT Startup (Pre-seed)🧠 This is not a typical engineering roleWe’re not looking for someone who just wants to write code.We’re looking for a builder — someone excited by ambiguity, ownership, real-world problems, and the opportunity to help build a company from the ground up.You’ll be the sole engineer, working AI-first, shipping a real hardware + software product, and testing it in cattle fields in South America.If you’re looking for a polished corporate environment, a large team, or clearly defined processes from day one, this role is not for you — and that’s completely fine.🏢 About the Partner CompanyOur partner is an early-stage AgTech / IoT startup focused on building sustainable, technology-driven solutions with real-world impact.Stage: Pre-seedFocus: Virtual fencing technology for livestockOperations: Europe (founders & HQ) + South America (field operations)Mission: Create sustainable value where progress and responsibility for people and planet go hand in handCulture: High ownership, AI-first mindset, field-driven problem solvingThis is a company where one strong engineer + AI is expected to outperform traditional teams.💼 The RoleAs Founding Software Engineer, you’ll own and ship the entire technical stack and play a central role in shaping the product, the architecture, and the technical direction of the company.This role offers a clear path to Head of Engineering / CTO, depending on interest and performance.You’ll work directly with the founders and have full technical ownership from day one.🛠 What You’ll Be DoingOwn the entire technical stack: embedded firmware, cloud backend, and iOS appTake over, iterate, and optimise existing STM32-based firmwareDesign and build cloud infrastructure from scratch (APIs, data, scalability)Build an iOS app designed for low-literacy, non-technical users (UX, visuals, text-to-speech)Collaborate closely with hardware manufacturing partnersUse AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude, GitHub Copilot) as core development partnersTravel regularly for hands-on field testing and product launchesShip V1 to market in 2025 and continuously improve reliability and usability✅ What We’re Looking For (Must-Haves)Strong software engineering fundamentals (language-agnostic)Heavy, demonstrated use of AI coding tools in daily developmentExperience shipping complete products independentlyiOS development experience (Swift / SwiftUI)Systems thinking across firmware, backend, and mobileComfort working autonomously as the sole engineerAt least 5+ years of hands-on engineering experience➕ Nice to HaveEmbedded / firmware experience (C, STM32)IoT protocols (e.g. LoRaWAN)Cloud backend development (any modern stack)Experience with hardware productsSpanish language skillsAgTech, robotics, or physical-world product exposure🚫 This Role Is NOT for You If…You need a large team to be productiveYou’re skeptical about AI-assisted developmentYou prefer highly structured corporate environmentsYou’re looking for feature-only work without ownershipYou’re uncomfortable with ambiguity, iteration, and field conditions🧠 Who Thrives in This RoleAutonomous, resourceful buildersLow-ego, high-ownership mindsetComfortable with uncertainty and responsibilityStrong product sense and user empathyExcited by real-world, physical impact💶 Compensation & BenefitsBase salary: €40,000 – €120,000 (depending on equity track and seniority)Equity: Significant founding-team level equity with vesting over 3 yearsContract: Full-time employmentVacation: 28 days per yearWorking model: Remote-first (Europe preferred) with regular travelUpside: Clear path to Head of Engineering / CTO🧩 Why Join?Founding-team level ownershipFull technical control across hardware & softwareReal-world impact on sustainable agricultureOpportunity to prove the power of AI-first developmentBuild something tangible, meaningful, and challengingOriginally posted on Himalayas

Founding Software Engineer (Path to CTO)📍 Remote (Europe preferred) | ✈️ Regular travel to South America🏢 Partner Company – AgTech / IoT Startup (Pre-seed)🧠 This is not a typical engineering roleWe’re not looking for someone who just wants to write code.We’re looking for a builder — someone excited by ambiguity, ownership, real-world problems, and the opportunity to help build a company from the ground up.You’ll be the sole engineer, working AI-first, shipping a real hardware + software product, and testing it in cattle fields in South America.If you’re looking for a polished corporate environment, a large team, or clearly defined processes from day one, this role is not for you — and that’s completely fine.🏢 About the Partner CompanyOur partner is an early-stage AgTech / IoT startup focused on building sustainable, technology-driven solutions with real-world impact.Stage: Pre-seedFocus: Virtual fencing technology for livestockOperations: Europe (founders & HQ) + South America (field operations)Mission: Create sustainable value where progress and responsibility for people and planet go hand in handCulture: High ownership, AI-first mindset, field-driven problem solvingThis is a company where one strong engineer + AI is expected to outperform traditional teams.💼 The RoleAs Founding Software Engineer, you’ll own and ship the entire technical stack and play a central role in shaping the product, the architecture, and the technical direction of the company.This role offers a clear path to Head of Engineering / CTO, depending on interest and performance.You’ll work directly with the founders and have full technical ownership from day one.🛠 What You’ll Be DoingOwn the entire technical stack: embedded firmware, cloud backend, and iOS appTake over, iterate, and optimise existing STM32-based firmwareDesign and build cloud infrastructure from scratch (APIs, data, scalability)Build an iOS app designed for low-literacy, non-technical users (UX, visuals, text-to-speech)Collaborate closely with hardware manufacturing partnersUse AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude, GitHub Copilot) as core development partnersTravel regularly for hands-on field testing and product launchesShip V1 to market in 2025 and continuously improve reliability and usability✅ What We’re Looking For (Must-Haves)Strong software engineering fundamentals (language-agnostic)Heavy, demonstrated use of AI coding tools in daily developmentExperience shipping complete products independentlyiOS development experience (Swift / SwiftUI)Systems thinking across firmware, backend, and mobileComfort working autonomously as the sole engineerAt least 5+ years of hands-on engineering experience➕ Nice to HaveEmbedded / firmware experience (C, STM32)IoT protocols (e.g. LoRaWAN)Cloud backend development (any modern stack)Experience with hardware productsSpanish language skillsAgTech, robotics, or physical-world product exposure🚫 This Role Is NOT for You If…You need a large team to be productiveYou’re skeptical about AI-assisted developmentYou prefer highly structured corporate environmentsYou’re looking for feature-only work without ownershipYou’re uncomfortable with ambiguity, iteration, and field conditions🧠 Who Thrives in This RoleAutonomous, resourceful buildersLow-ego, high-ownership mindsetComfortable with uncertainty and responsibilityStrong product sense and user empathyExcited by real-world, physical impact💶 Compensation & BenefitsBase salary: €40,000 – €120,000 (depending on equity track and seniority)Equity: Significant founding-team level equity with vesting over 3 yearsContract: Full-time employmentVacation: 28 days per yearWorking model: Remote-first (Europe preferred) with regular travelUpside: Clear path to Head of Engineering / CTO🧩 Why Join?Founding-team level ownershipFull technical control across hardware & softwareReal-world impact on sustainable agricultureOpportunity to prove the power of AI-first developmentBuild something tangible, meaningful, and challengingOriginally posted on Himalayas