Founding Product Engineer

Clera

$200K — $250K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of software engineering experience, preferably in startup environments.
  • Strong backend proficiency with FastAPI, Python, and MongoDB.
  • Full-stack capability in designing REST/GraphQL APIs and developing React + TypeScript UIs.
  • Experience translating ambiguous problems into viable product features independently.
  • Knowledge of B2B SaaS monetization mechanisms such as pricing and billing.
  • Experience with AI-assisted features and workflows.
  • High attention to detail, especially in financial-related logic.

Responsibilities

  • Scope, design, build, and iterate product modules, including APIs and UIs.
  • Evolve architecture for AI systems across various interfaces and integrations.
  • Ensure compatibility of features with LLM agents and conversational interfaces.
  • Optimize backend services for accurate pricing and financial processing.
  • Maintain a typed pricing ontology using Pydantic models.
  • Lead architectural reviews and set testing and monitoring standards.
  • Mentor colleagues and shape engineering culture while influencing product strategy.
  • Conduct root-cause analysis on production issues, particularly monetary transactions.

Benefits

  • Equity participation expected as part of the founding team.
  • Work in a collaborative startup environment in San Francisco, CA.
Full Job Description
About the Role

This is a founding engineering role at an early-stage B2B SaaS startup building an AI-driven pricing and monetization platform. You'll own entire product modules end-to-end - from architecture through shipped UI - working directly with customers and leadership to shape the product. Financial precision, technical leadership, and comfort with ambiguity are central to success here.
What You'll Do
  • Scope, design, build, and iterate on whole product modules independently, including versioned APIs and React UIs.
  • Design and evolve architecture for agentic AI systems spanning Slack bots, terminal interfaces, web surfaces, and vendor integrations.
  • Ensure features are drivable by LLM agents via MCP/FastMCP servers and conversational interfaces.
  • Move pricing and business logic off the client into backend services to preserve financial fidelity.
  • Extend and maintain a typed pricing ontology using Pydantic models (e.g., SKU, Proposition, Persona, Pricing, Customer, Contract, Quote).
  • Lead architectural reviews and establish testing, observability, deployment, and performance monitoring practices for AI-driven features.
  • Mentor peers, influence product strategy, and help set engineering culture and best practices.
  • Treat money-handling code as load-bearing infrastructure and drive root-cause analysis for production issues.
  • Contribute to an AI-native SDLC where agents assist with code and automated review gates.
What We're Looking For
  • 8+ years of software engineering experience with proven ownership of full product areas at startup or staff-level scope.
  • Deep backend expertise with production experience in FastAPI, Python, and MongoDB (or a comparable stack).
  • Credible full-stack range: able to design versioned REST/GraphQL APIs and ship polished React + TypeScript UIs independently.
  • Track record of taking ambiguous customer problems to shipped features without a dedicated PM.
  • Experience with B2B SaaS monetization concepts: pricing models, packaging, quoting, billing, or CPQ.
  • Experience building or integrating AI-assisted features and agent-driven workflows (LLM interfaces, tool-use endpoints, etc.).
  • High standards for correctness, especially around financial logic.
  • Nice to have: Built MCP servers or tooling for LLM agents.
  • Nice to have: Experience with billing, CPQ, metering, or usage-based pricing systems.
  • Nice to have: Familiarity with SOC2/GDPR-compliant development practices.
  • Nice to have: Prior experience as a technical founder or early employee who shipped a 0-to-1 B2B product to paying customers.
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $200,000 - $250,000 USD annually. Equity participation expected at this founding-team scope. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Location

On-site in San Francisco, CA. Remote work is not available for this role.

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