Founding Engineer at Clera
About the Role
About the Role
Join an early-stage consumer AI startup as a Founding Engineer — a rare 1-of-1 role working directly alongside the founding team to shape both the product and engineering culture. This company is building a real-time AI-enabled platform designed to digitize human connection, making AI interactions feel genuinely present and personal. You'll help lay the technical foundation from the ground up in a fast-moving, high-ambition environment.
What You'll Do
Build across the full application, collaborating closely with the founder, design team, and other engineers.
Design and implement systems for memory, retrieval, proactivity, and AI responsiveness.
Integrate real-time video generation and audio synthesis models — both internal and third-party.
Set the bar for engineering quality and play an active role in recruiting world-class talent.
Extensively use the product yourself to ensure real user value and quality.
What We're Looking For
Required: Computer Science degree from a top university.
Required: 2–7 years of professional software engineering experience (not a new grad).
Required: Strong CS fundamentals and a track record of technically complex side projects.
Required: High energy, entrepreneurial spirit — prior startup or fast-moving environment experience strongly valued.
Required: Proficiency in Python, including typed scientific Python.
Bonus: Experience with real-time media, vision/video model training or deployment, memory systems, or audio synthesis.
Bonus: Familiarity with agentic coding or AI-assisted development workflows.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $175,000 – $225,000 USD annually
Visa sponsorship available
Location
This role is fully on-site in San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be willing and able to work in-person full-time.