Founding Product Engineer

Clera

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

Qualifications

  • 1-3 years of production software development experience, preferably in early-stage companies or as a founder.
  • Proficient in TypeScript and React for front-end development, with a modern backend stack and relational databases.
  • Hands-on experience with AI and LLMs, through professional or personal projects.
  • Demonstrated ability to own features from concept to production deployment.
  • Comfortable in ambiguous, fast-paced environments with high ownership responsibilities.
  • Strong product instincts and an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Excellent communication skills and a commitment to high-quality, reliable code.

Responsibilities

  • Build and manage core product features across the full technology stack.
  • Collaborate closely with AI engineers and attorneys to translate contractual workflows into actionable software.
  • Make informed decisions on architecture and tooling for current speed and future scalability.
  • Write and maintain production-quality code with full ownership of deliverables.
  • Help shape the engineering culture and standards during rapid team growth.
  • Ensure customer needs are met by driving features to completion.

Benefits

  • Equity options as part of the compensation package.
  • Work in a dynamic, seed-stage environment focused on innovation in legal tech.
  • Opportunity to shape engineering culture and practices from the outset.
Full Job Description
About the Role

This is a founding engineering role at a seed-stage legal AI company that combines AI agents with licensed attorneys to transform how commercial contracts are reviewed, negotiated, and drafted. You will build core product features from the ground up, working directly alongside attorneys and AI engineers to ship software that real customers rely on every day. As the first or one of the first engineers, you will set the engineering culture and standards for everyone who comes after you.
What You'll Do
  • Build and own core product features across the full stack, from data models to the interfaces attorneys and clients use daily.
  • Partner closely with AI engineers and attorneys to translate legal workflows and review playbooks into reliable, production-grade software.
  • Make pragmatic architecture and tooling decisions that balance speed now with scalability later.
  • Write maintainable, production-quality code and take complete ownership of what you ship.
  • Help define engineering culture, standards, and hiring practices as the team grows.
  • Drive features over the finish line with a customer-first mindset, every time.
What We're Looking For
  • 1 to 3 years of experience building and shipping production software, ideally at an early-stage company or as a founder.
  • Strong full-stack ability: TypeScript and React on the front end, a modern backend stack, and relational databases.
  • Hands-on experience building with AI and LLMs, either professionally or in personal projects.
  • A track record of owning features end-to-end, from conception through production deployment.
  • Comfort with ambiguity and a proven ability to thrive in fast-moving, high-ownership environments with minimal process.
  • Product instincts and an entrepreneurial, owner-oriented mindset.
  • Strong judgment, communication skills, and a high personal bar for code quality and reliability.
  • Experience working directly with domain experts to translate complex workflows into software is a plus.
  • Background in legal tech, contract management, or document processing is a plus.
  • Familiarity with modern DevOps, CI/CD, and production monitoring practices is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $140,000 to $180,000 USD annually. Equity is available as part of the total compensation package. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Location

This is a full-time, on-site role based in San Francisco, California. In-person attendance six days per week is expected.

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