Founding Engineer

teracยท Engineering
Apply Now โ†—
๐Ÿ“ San FranciscoFullTime๐Ÿ’ฐ USD 140Kโ€“210K/yr

About this role

Founding Engineer

Terac helps teams reach faster research breakthroughs through our marketplace of verified experts. We are building agents to recruit, verify, and match 10,000s experts with 1000s of opportunities from the worlds most innovative organizations.

We work with leading enterprises and are backed by top investors.

The Role

You will:

  • Own and scale the recruitment engine, the algorithm that finds any niche audience in the world through network traversal targeted ads, referrals, automated outbound, and anything else you can come up with.

  • Build and extend the Terac API that research tooling companies and AI data companies integrate against.

  • Ship the AI moderator, our voice agent that screens candidates, evaluates long-horizon tasks, detects cheating, and handles multi-language conversations.

  • Build marketplace systems: opportunity routing, pricing optimization, expert LTV modeling, and feasibility estimation.

  • Design the expert network experience, including onboarding flows, opportunity matching, payouts, and trust systems that make experts want to stay on the platform.

  • Work directly with the CTO to shape technical direction across Next.js, TypeScript, tRPC, Drizzle, Neon Postgres, LiveKit, and the Vercel AI SDK.

You are:

  • A high-agency builder with 3+ years of fullstack experience.

  • Fluent in modern web stacks (TypeScript, React, Postgres).

  • Experienced with LLMs, voice AI, or AI SDKs (Vercel AI SDK, Gemini, LiveKit).

  • Excited by marketplace dynamics like matching, routing, pricing, and network effects.

  • Maybe a former founder or lead who is hungry to build again.

Why now:

  • We are at the inflection point, shifting from a research tool into a platform company with 10+ API integrations launching in the next quarter.

  • The human data market for AI training is exploding and we have the recruitment infrastructure already built.

  • You would be joining a 10-person team with 9M in funding and a growing base of happy customers.

Misc

  • We operate in-person six days per week in our downtown SF office

  • Compensation: Competitive salary, menaingful equity vested over four years, $10K relocation bonus (for moving to the Bay Area), and an additional $5k housing bonus (if you move within 0.5 miles of our office), Health, Dental, Vision insurance, 401(k) with company match

  • Terac culture: Between weekly presentations, company hackathons, and an AI-first mindset, you will be working with one of the most innovative teams on the planet.

  • Growth opportunities: You are joining Terac at one of the earliest stages and will have an opportunity to shape and grow with the company as a founding member.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Founding Engineer role at terac?
The listed salary for this Founding Engineer position at terac is USD 140Kโ€“210K/yr. This is an FullTime role.
Where is the Founding Engineer position at terac located?
This Founding Engineer role at terac is based in San Francisco. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Founding Engineer role at terac full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Founding Engineer role in the Engineering department at terac.
Which team or department does the Founding Engineer at terac belong to?
This Founding Engineer position is part of the Engineering department at terac. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Founding Engineer position at terac?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to terac's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Founding Engineer job at terac posted?
This Founding Engineer position at terac was posted on Dec 17, 2025. Apply as soon as possible โ€” early applications are often reviewed first.
Founding Engineer
terac ยท ๐Ÿ’ฐ USD 140Kโ€“210K/yr
Apply for this role โ†—

You'll be redirected to terac's official application page on Ashby ATS.