Founding Engineer ($150k-$250k + Equity) at Generalcatalyst

About the role

As a Founding Engineer, you will build the core primitives that allow AI agents to communicate and operate as independent entities. You'll design high-throughput email infrastructure and APIs, bridging cutting-edge LLM capabilities with foundational messaging protocols. This is a systems-heavy role where you'll own projects end-to-end for a rapidly scaling user base.

Why this role is remarkable

• Join as one of the first 10 employees at a YC S25 company defining a new category of infrastructure for the agentic era.
• Work alongside a world-class team from Optiver, NVIDIA, and Modern Treasury, backed by top-tier investors like General Catalyst and Paul Graham.
• Influence the fundamental design of how AI agents interact with the world, moving from 0 to 1 in a high-growth environment.

What you will do

• Design and implement high-performance, low-latency APIs and abstractions specifically tailored for AI agents rather than human end-users.
• Scale distributed systems and core infrastructure that currently processes hundreds of thousands of emails daily, aiming for massive future volume.
• Bridge the gap between modern AI capabilities and primitive communication protocols like email to create a seamless agent identity provider.

The ideal candidate

• Proven track record of shipping production software and managing core infrastructure at a high-growth tech company or startup.
• Strong backend and systems engineering instincts, with the ability to handle distributed systems, developer tools, or protocol-heavy messaging.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and a high bar for quality, thriving in fast-paced environments where speed and detail are critical.

Pay

$150k-$250k + Equity

Location

San Francisco, USA