Escargot is rethinking what it means to celebrate in a digital age, and we need a Founding Engineer to help bring our vision to life. This isn’t your typical dev role—you won’t just be writing code, you’ll be building an entirely new way for people to experience joy, humor, connection, and thoughtful moments in the digital and physical world. We’re looking for someone who’s a true generalist—comfortable working across the stack, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. You should thrive in ambiguity, get excited about building consumer-first experiences from scratch, and have a deep appreciation for both speed and craftsmanship. If you love solving hard problems, working alongside creative thinkers, and crafting world-class consumer products that people love using, let’s talk.

👨‍💻 RESPONSIBILITIES:

Own the Full Stack: Architect, build, and optimize Escargot’s core platform, from front-end interfaces to back-end services.
Work Across Platforms: Develop seamless, intuitive consumer experiences across web and mobile.
Prototype & Iterate Quickly: We move fast—test, learn, and refine features that push the product (and the brand) forward.
Collaborate with Design & Content Teams: Work closely with product, design, and marketing to translate creative ideas into functional, delightful experiences.
Optimize for Performance & Scale: Ensure our tech stack is efficient, scalable, and ready to grow with the business.
Stay Curious & Experiment: Try new frameworks, leverage AI/ML where relevant, and constantly improve the way we build.
Help Define Engineering Culture: As a founding engineer, you’ll set the tone for how we ship, collaborate, and think about code quality and process.

🏆 QUALIFICATIONS:

3+ years of full-stack experience, ideally in consumer-focused startups or product-driven teams.
Expertise in at least one of JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, React, iOS, and Android and a willingness to learn others.
Comfort working across the stack—from front-end UI to backend architecture and databases.
Experience with mobile development (iOS, Android, or React Native) is a plus.
Ability to work fast and scrappy while maintaining high technical standards.
Deep understanding of what makes great consumer products—obsession with user experience, clean interfaces, and delightful interactions.
Strong problem-solving skills and a bias toward action—you’re comfortable making decisions and moving forward in uncertainty.
Willingness to wear multiple hats and step outside of your comfort zone to help build something truly original.
A founder’s mindset—you care deeply about the product, the people using it, and the team building it.

🐌 WHY ESCARGOT?

Build something from zero—you’ll be responsible for bringing to life entirely new and delightful consumer experiences from scratch.
Work alongside visionary founders who care deeply about the intersection of humor, connection, and technology.
Define the future of our stack and culture—this is a rare opportunity to shape the DNA of an early-stage company.
Blend creativity with engineering—Escargot isn’t just about building tech; it’s about crafting experiences that feel delightful, unexpected, and deeply human.
Competitive salary, equity, and the chance to be a foundational part of something big.

🔥 BONUS POINTS IF YOU:

Have experience with e-commerce, payments, or interactive consumer experiences.
Have built side projects, startups, or products just for fun.
Think about engineering as a creative discipline—you love great UX, design, and thinking about how products make people feel.
Are excited to help shape an engineering culture that values creativity, autonomy, and speed.

Escargot

Founding Software Engineer

NYC or Remote$120K - $150Kfull-time