Full-Time
AI-Native Software Engineer
Platform Engineering
Posted on 8/27/2025
CookUnity
501-1,000 employees
Gourmet chef-prepared meal delivery subscription
No salary listed
Toronto, ON, Canada + 1 more
More locations: New York, NY, USA
Hybrid
Located in Toronto or willing to work hybrid from our Toronto office.
 Software Engineering (1) |
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- 3 years of professional experience (but you've been building things since before you could legally work)
- Portfolio of projects built with AI assistance. We want to see your GitHub, not your GPA.
- Fluent in modern AI development tools (you have opinions on Cursor vs Windsurf vs Continue).
- Proven ability to integrate LLMs into real applications - OpenAI, Anthropic, open source models)
- Strong foundation in at least one programming language - Python, Kotlin, TypeScript, or similar).
- Experience with React, Next.js, or similar frameworks—you can build full-stack with AI's help.
- Natural teacher—you can explain to a PM how to use Claude to prototype, or help a senior engineer understand prompt engineering.
- Ship-first mentality: you'd rather deploy something imperfect today than something perfect next month
- Active in AI communities: Twitter, Discord, Reddit)—you know what dropped yesterday and have probably already tried it.
- Comfortable with ambiguity—you figure things out by building, not by waiting for requirements.
- Ship production code daily using AI-assisted development - Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, etc.)—you know which tool for which task
- Partner with PMs to rapidly prototype their ideas, turning "what if we could..." into working demos in hours, not weeks.
- Build internal tools and automations that make everyone faster—from chef onboarding bots to menu analysis pipelines.
- Create reusable patterns and templates for LLM integration that other engineers can leverageRun experiments with new AI models and tools, becoming the team's go-to expert on what's possible.
- Write clean, maintainable code (with AI's help). You know when to let Copilot write and when to take the wheelTeach PMs and designers how to prototype with v0, Bolt, and Claude—democratizing the ability to build.
- Contribute to technical decisions by building proof-of-concepts that answer "can we?" before we debate "should we?".
- Document AI development patterns and create playbooks for the broader team
- Personal projects using AI that went viral, got users, or solved real problems.
- Contributions to open source AI projects or published experimentsExperience fine-tuning models, MCP or building RAG systems.
- Built and deployed your own AI products (even if they failed—we want builders).
- Wrote about AI development (blog posts, tutorials, Twitter threads).
- Won hackathons or shipped side projects with real users.
- Located in Toronto or willing to work hybrid from our Toronto office.
CookUnity provides a meal delivery service that ships gourmet, professionally prepared meals to customers on a subscription basis. What it does: offers a rotating menu of over 200 chef-created meals, delivering 4 to 16 meals per week to busy or health-conscious eaters who want convenience and quality, with options for vegetarian, pescatarian, keto, and other dietary preferences. How it works: customers choose meals on a weekly plan or let CookUnity pick for them; plans are flexible and can be paused, canceled, or changed at any time. The meals are delivered fresh (not frozen) using modified atmosphere packaging to maintain freshness. How it stands out: the meals are prepared by renowned chefs, including Food Network alumni and James Beard Award winners, emphasizing gourmet quality rather than mass-market options. Its goal is to provide high-quality, chef-created meals with easy, flexible subscription service that fits different dietary needs."}Way to go; succint
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Debt Financing
Total Funding
$399.2M
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
2015
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Secured $250M non-dilutive funding from General Catalyst fueling 75% YoY meal growth.
- Added chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Rick Bayless, and Cat Cora boosting platform prestige.
- Airbnb partnership expands reach to travelers across 24 U.S. states with meal bundles.
What critics are saying
- Airbnb ties divert chefs to low-volume bundles, slashing subscription margins in 6-12 months.
- Tasty recipes commoditize gourmet brand, eroding premium pricing in 12-18 months.
- Fresh packaging triggers FDA spoilage recalls, driving subscriber exodus in 3-9 months.
What makes CookUnity unique
- CookUnity connects award-winning chefs directly to consumers with fresh gourmet meals.
- Over 100 professional chefs offer 400+ rotating dishes weekly using modified atmosphere packaging.
- Flexible subscriptions allow pausing or canceling anytime with personalized recommendations.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Unlimited Paid Time Off
5- year Sabbatical
Paid Family Leave
Compassionate Leave
Wellness Program
Stock Options
Performance Bonus
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 2%2 year growth
↑ 0%Airbnb partners with celebrity chefs for pre-heated meals. Airbnb has introduced a new service in collaboration with CookUnity, offering guests and locals "ready to heat meals" prepared by award-winning chefs. This initiative is part of Airbnb Services' broader strategy to expand its offerings. Currently available in two dozen U.S. states, the service allows users to order meal bundles in quantities of 3-6. This move signifies Airbnb's effort to diversify its services beyond traditional accommodations, tapping into the growing demand for convenient, high-quality meal solutions in the travel industry. * Airbnb has partnered with CookUnity to offer pre-prepared meals prepared by award-winning chefs. * The service is currently available in 24 U.S. states. * Users can order meal bundles in quantities ranging from 3 to 6. * This initiative is part of Airbnb Services' broader strategy to diversify its offerings. * Expansion of Service Offerings: Airbnb's introduction of meal bundles represents a strategic move to diversify its service offerings beyond traditional accommodations. This expansion could attract a broader customer base, including travelers who prefer to have meals arranged during their trips. It also positions Airbnb as a one-stop solution for travel needs, potentially increasing customer loyalty and repeat usage. * Market Opportunity in Meal Delivery: The collaboration with CookUnity highlights the growing market opportunity in meal delivery services within the travel industry. As more travelers seek convenience and quality, startups and established players in the meal delivery sector may find increased demand. This trend could spur further innovation in meal preparation and delivery technologies, benefiting both consumers and service providers. * Geographic Expansion Potential: The service's availability in 24 U.S. states indicates a strong market presence and acceptance. This geographic expansion could serve as a model for Airbnb to replicate in other regions, potentially leading to a global rollout. Such expansion could create new opportunities for local chefs and culinary businesses to gain visibility and reach a wider audience, fostering a symbiotic relationship between travel services and local culinary talent. The introduction of Airbnb's meal bundles aligns with the broader trend of integrating food services into the travel experience. As travel becomes increasingly about the journey and experiences, rather than just the destination, the demand for comprehensive travel solutions that include meals is on the rise. This trend is supported by recent insights from industry thought leaders who emphasize the importance of holistic travel experiences. Furthermore, the collaboration with CookUnity underscores the growing importance of culinary expertise in enhancing the travel experience. By leveraging the skills of award-winning chefs, Airbnb not only ensures high-quality meals but also adds a layer of cultural and gastronomic enrichment to its service offerings. This move is likely to resonate with travelers who value unique, memorable experiences, thereby reinforcing Airbnb's position as an innovator in the travel tech sector. Stay ahead with travel trade today - AI news that matters. Get curated travel AI insights - choose the newsletters that matter to you. Join thousands of travel leaders. Unsubscribe anytime.
CookUnity secured up to $250 million funding from General Catalyst to accelerate customer acquisition, brand expansion across NA
CookUnity has secured up to $250 million in non-dilutive funding from General Catalyst to accelerate customer acquisition and expand chef partnerships across North America. The chef-to-consumer meal delivery platform reported a 75% year-over-year increase in total meals as of October. The company's model connects award-winning chefs with consumers whilst handling sourcing, packaging and delivery. Average chefs on the platform earn $850,000 annually, with top performers generating over $7 million yearly. The platform offers hundreds of meal options weekly. CookUnity recently added renowned chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Rick Bayless and Cat Cora to its roster. The company has scaled profitably without requiring incremental fundraising, positioning itself for continued growth in the meal delivery sector.
CookUnity secures $250 million from General Catalyst to accelerate growth and customer acquisition. * The company secured up to $250 million in non-dilutive funding from General Catalyst to accelerate customer acquisition, brand expansion, and chef partnerships across North America. * CookUnity | s innovative model has allowed the company to scale profitably without new fundraising, driving more than 75% year-over-year increase in total meals and sustained growth. * CookUnity also added new award-winning chefs Marcus Samuelson, Rick Bayless and Cat Cora to their roster. * The average chef on the platform earns $850,000 annually, while top performers generate more than $7 million in revenue each year. NEW YORK - CookUnity, the award-winning chef-to-consumer meal delivery platform, announced that as of October it had achieved more than 75% increase in total meals year over year, underscoring the company's steady and profitable growth trajectory[1]. The company also confirmed it has secured up to $250 million in non-dilutive funding from General Catalyst, fueling CookUnity | s next phase of growth focused on customer acquisition, brand expansion, and chef partnerships across North America.
That's why PocketRN is partnering with CookUnity, a chef-powered, dietitian-guided meal service, to make fresh, ready-to-eat meals more accessible to seniors and patients PocketRN, Inc. serve.