SWE Jobs at Early-Stage Startups
Tracked at 10k top companies
If you're a software engineer who learns best by doing, early-stage startups offer a rare kind of runway. This list curates software engineering roles at high-growth, early-stage startups, ranging from Series A down to pre-seed. These companies move fast, prioritize builders, and are hiring across levels.
You’ll find roles like founding engineer, platform lead, senior backend developer, and full stack generalist. We also include mid-level and principal engineers who want broad scope and lean teams. The tech stacks vary but commonly include TypeScript, React, Node.js, Python, Go, and Rust, plus infra roles using AWS, GCP, or Terraform. From AI infrastructure to developer tools to vertical SaaS, these teams are shipping fast and solving tough problems.
We source only active roles from vetted, funded startups. Each job includes context like company size, funding round, hybrid/remote status, and whether you’d be working solo, with a team, or reporting directly to a CTO. Many include equity, product ownership, and high-impact responsibilities.
If you’re tired of layers of middle management or want to leave Big Tech behind, this is the ecosystem for you. Whether you’re backend-heavy or full stack curious, this list is your shortcut to the roles where you’ll do your best work.
- today
ProlificSeniorAI Research EngineerRemote in UK---today - 7d
E-SpaceSeniorSenior Software Integration and Test EngineerArlington, TX---7d - 7dE-SpaceSenior5G Core – Senior Software Integration and Test Engineer$100k - $200kSaratoga, CA$100k - $200k7d
- 9d
Trovo HealthMid LevelProduct Engineer - AI / ML$200k - $250kNew York, NY$200k - $250k9d - 10d
PicogridSeniorSenior Software Engineer$150k - $220kEl Segundo, CA$150k - $220k10d - 15d
WebAISeniorForward Deployed AI EngineerAustin, TX---15d - 14d
Wing AssistantMid LevelFull Stack Developer - MERN + LLMs$1M - $2.5MRemote in India$1M - $2.5M14d - 18d
RevefiMid LevelSenior Backend EngineerBengaluru, India---18d - 22dProlificSeniorSenior Product EngineerRemote in UK---22d
- 24d
ShakepaySeniorSenior Software Engineer - Future opportunities$170k - $220kRemote in Canada$170k - $220k24d - 4d
HedraSeniorSenior Full-Stack Engineer$175k - $275kSan Francisco, CA$175k - $275k4d - 4dHedraSeniorSenior Backend Engineer$175k - $275kSan Francisco, CA$175k - $275k4d
- 1mo
FractalSeniorSenior Java Fullstack EngineerMumbai, India---1mo - 1mo
Standard MetricsMid LevelSoftware Engineer - Backend$150k - $190kRemote in USA$150k - $190k1mo - 29d
Distyl AIMid LevelSoftware Engineer - Back End$150k - $250kSan Francisco, CA$150k - $250k29d
Explore our FAQ section to learn more.
Show initiative and scrappiness. Link to a side project with a real user base or an open-source contribution with traction. Early-stage teams look for engineers who can ship without hand-holding. In your application, describe what you owned end-to-end, don't just list technologies.
Ask the startup’s last valuation, how many total shares exist, and how much you're getting. Multiply that out, don’t just accept '0.25% equity' without knowing the cap table. Ask if there's a 409A valuation, 4-year vesting, and a 1-year cliff. Also ask about option exercise windows after you leave.
Ask how much runway they have (months of cash left at current burn), who their lead investors are, and when they plan to raise next. If they avoid answering, that’s a red flag. Also ask: How often do they ship? Who sets priorities? How much of the product is still in flux?
Email a founder or early engineer directly. Keep it short: say what you’ve built, what you’d be excited to work on, and link your GitHub or portfolio. Bonus: Suggest something you’d improve in their product. Early-stage teams appreciate thoughtful cold emails way more than polished cover letters.
Rarely. Most startups under 20 people don’t sponsor unless the founders have prior experience navigating immigration. If you need sponsorship, focus on YC-backed or well-funded Series A startups that already have international team members. Always ask upfront.
They usually skip formal DSA rounds. Expect practical questions, how you’d build a feature, debug a performance issue, or design a simple API. Sometimes you’ll get a take-home or pair programming session. Founders often care more about your ability to learn and ship than your leetcode score.
