Clera is a talent-matching platform that replaces traditional job applications by connecting candidates and hiring teams through curated introductions.
ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a Founding Engineer to join our early-stage team. This is a ground-floor opportunity to help shape the technical foundation of a growing company, working closely with leadership to build and scale core product infrastructure from the ground up. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Design, build, and maintain scalable systems and product features as an early engineering hire. - Collaborate directly with founders and cross-functional stakeholders to translate product vision into reliable, well-crafted code. - Make foundational architectural decisions that will influence the technical direction of the company. - Take ownership of the full development lifecycle — from scoping and implementation to deployment and iteration. - Help establish engineering culture, best practices, and processes as the team grows. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Proven experience as a full-stack or backend engineer, ideally with early-stage or founding engineer experience. - Strong fundamentals across software design, system architecture, and engineering best practices. - Comfort operating with ambiguity and a bias toward action in a fast-moving environment. - Collaborative mindset with excellent communication skills. - Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship — sponsorship is not available for this role. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Compensation details are not specified for this role. This will be discussed during the interview process. LOCATION This role is based in San Francisco, CA. Additional team presence in Los Angeles, CA and New York City, NY.