Founding Engineer / Full Stack Python / Onsite Chicago
Motion Recruitment Partners
Job Description We are seeking a Founding Engineer to play a pivotal role in shaping the technical foundation and culture of an early-stage company. Their mission is to modernize financial systems for nonprofits, equipping them with cutting-edge tools to improve operational efficiency and maximize their impact. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment, takes ownership of their work, and enjoys solving complex technical challenges in the nonprofit and fintech sectors.
As a key member of the team, you will work on impactful technology that empowers nonprofits to operate more effectively. You will thrive in a collaborative, in-person team environment in Chicago, working directly with company leadership. Your contributions will have an immediate impact on our success, with the potential to grow into a leadership role as we scale. If you’re excited by variety, ownership, and the opportunity to drive meaningful change in a fast-paced startup, this is the perfect role for you. Required Skills & Experience 4+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on backend or full-stack development Proficiency in at least two of the following areas within our tech stack: Python (FastAPI, Celery, SQLAlchemy), React (TanStack, Material UI), PostgreSQL, Redis. Familiarity with Ably, Twilio, SendGrid, Auth0, Stripe, AWS, and GitHub Actions. Ability to work independently on ambiguous technical challenges and deliver scalable, maintainable solutions. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance technical feasibility with business priorities. Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. A passion for learning, adaptability to new technologies, and a commitment to engineering excellence. Desired Skills & Experience Experience designing and deploying cloud-based architectures. Strong understanding of distributed systems, scalability, and performance optimization. Previous experience working in a startup or fast-paced, high-impact environment. Interest in or experience with financial systems, fintech, or nonprofit technology solutions. What You Will Be Doing Designing and implementing scalable, maintainable systems to support business goals. Taking full ownership of features, guiding them from concept through deployment. Collaborating with the founding team to develop user-centric solutions that enhance nonprofit financial operations. Tackling complex engineering challenges and making strategic technical decisions. Helping establish and foster a strong engineering culture as one of the company’s first technical hires. The Offer You will receive the following benefits: Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Equity 0.5%-1% to align with company growth and individual contributions Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis now and in the future.
#LI-OP
As a key member of the team, you will work on impactful technology that empowers nonprofits to operate more effectively. You will thrive in a collaborative, in-person team environment in Chicago, working directly with company leadership. Your contributions will have an immediate impact on our success, with the potential to grow into a leadership role as we scale. If you’re excited by variety, ownership, and the opportunity to drive meaningful change in a fast-paced startup, this is the perfect role for you. Required Skills & Experience 4+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on backend or full-stack development Proficiency in at least two of the following areas within our tech stack: Python (FastAPI, Celery, SQLAlchemy), React (TanStack, Material UI), PostgreSQL, Redis. Familiarity with Ably, Twilio, SendGrid, Auth0, Stripe, AWS, and GitHub Actions. Ability to work independently on ambiguous technical challenges and deliver scalable, maintainable solutions. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance technical feasibility with business priorities. Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. A passion for learning, adaptability to new technologies, and a commitment to engineering excellence. Desired Skills & Experience Experience designing and deploying cloud-based architectures. Strong understanding of distributed systems, scalability, and performance optimization. Previous experience working in a startup or fast-paced, high-impact environment. Interest in or experience with financial systems, fintech, or nonprofit technology solutions. What You Will Be Doing Designing and implementing scalable, maintainable systems to support business goals. Taking full ownership of features, guiding them from concept through deployment. Collaborating with the founding team to develop user-centric solutions that enhance nonprofit financial operations. Tackling complex engineering challenges and making strategic technical decisions. Helping establish and foster a strong engineering culture as one of the company’s first technical hires. The Offer You will receive the following benefits: Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Equity 0.5%-1% to align with company growth and individual contributions Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis now and in the future.
#LI-OP
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