Founding Product Engineer

Clera

$140K — $180K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 1-3 years experience in building and shipping production software, preferably at a startup
  • Strong full-stack development skills, particularly in TypeScript/React
  • Hands-on experience with AI technologies or LLMs
  • Proven track record in owning features from conception to production
  • Ability to make engineering trade-offs under pressure
  • Strong communication skills and an entrepreneurial mindset

Responsibilities

  • Build and own core product features across full stack
  • Translate legal workflows into production-grade software with AI engineers and attorneys
  • Make architecture and tooling decisions for immediate speed and future scalability
  • Write maintainable and reliable code, taking ownership of production releases
  • Define engineering culture and hiring practices as the team grows
  • Prioritize customer experience and drive features to completion

Benefits

  • Early-stage equity reflective of a founding engineer role
  • Full-time in-person position based in San Francisco, CA
  • High-ownership environment with significant impact on company culture
Full Job Description
About the Role

A fast-moving, seed-stage legal AI company is looking for a Founding Product Engineer to build its core product from the ground up. Operating at the intersection of AI and legal services, the company combines AI agents with licensed attorneys to deliver rapid, transparent, fixed-fee contract review, negotiation, and drafting for fast-moving businesses.

You'll work directly alongside attorneys and AI engineers to turn real legal workflows into reliable, production-grade software - something genuinely new. As one of the earliest engineers, you'll set the technical culture and standards for everyone who comes after you. This is a high-ownership, in-person role for someone who thrives in an intense, fast-paced environment and wants to make a meaningful impact early in their career.
What You'll Do
  • Build and own core product features across the full stack - from data models and backend systems to the interfaces attorneys and clients use every day.
  • Partner closely with AI engineers and attorneys to translate legal workflows and review playbooks into production-grade software.
  • Make pragmatic architecture and tooling decisions that enable speed today without compromising the future.
  • Write maintainable, reliable code and take complete ownership of what you ship in production.
  • Help define engineering culture, standards, and hiring practices as the team scales.
  • Drive features across the finish line - customer experience always comes first.
What We're Looking For

Must-haves:
  • 1-3 years of experience building and shipping production software, ideally at an early-stage company or as a founder.
  • Strong full-stack ability: TypeScript/React on the front end, a modern backend stack, and relational databases.
  • Hands-on experience building with AI/LLMs, either professionally or in personal projects.
  • A track record of owning features end-to-end - from conception through production deployment.
  • Proven ability to make sound engineering trade-offs under pressure and with minimal process.
  • Comfort with ambiguity, a high bar for your own work, and a strong product instinct.
  • Excellent communication skills and an entrepreneurial, owner's mindset.

Nice to have:
  • Experience in legal tech, contract management, or document processing.
  • Experience working directly with domain experts (e.g., attorneys, compliance specialists) to translate workflows into software.
  • Familiarity with modern DevOps, CI/CD, and production monitoring practices.
  • Founder or early employee experience at a venture-backed startup.
Compensation & Benefits
  • Salary: $140,000 - $180,000 USD annually
  • Early-stage equity commensurate with a founding engineer role
  • Visa sponsorship: Not available
Location

This is a full-time, in-person role based in San Francisco, CA. Remote or hybrid arrangements are not available for this position.

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