Founding Engineer (Full-Stack / AI)

<h3>About the Role</h3><p style="min-height:1.5em">Join a fast-moving, early-stage <strong>logistics technology startup</strong> as a <strong>Founding Engineer</strong> and help build the AI platform that is making global freight forwarding autonomous. As one of the first engineers, you will own critical architecture decisions, ship full-stack features end-to-end, and push the boundaries of applied AI in a production environment — all while working closely with the founding team in Munich.</p><p style="min-height:1.5em">This is a high-ownership, high-impact role suited to someone with a founder mentality who thrives in ambiguity and wants to shape the technical DNA of a company from the ground up.</p><h3>What You'll Do</h3><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Own the design, development, and maintenance of the most critical parts of the core product.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Build reliable, scalable full-stack features that make users radically more efficient.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Evaluate, benchmark, and fine-tune AI/ML capabilities to maximise domain accuracy and context.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Continuously experiment with new model releases, frameworks, and agentic techniques in production.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Ship promising approaches quickly and iterate based on data and real user feedback.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Navigate and improve large-scale, complex legacy codebases, adding structure and scalability.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Engineer infrastructure and automation pipelines to support heavy data and AI workloads.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Collaborate directly with founders and teammates as a hands-on, high-ownership contributor.</p></li></ul><h3>What We're Looking For</h3><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Required:</strong></p><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">2–3+ years of professional software development experience (strong personal projects or an entrepreneurial track record may substitute).</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Strong proficiency in <strong>Python</strong>; familiarity with <strong>Go</strong> is a significant plus.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Solid full-stack engineering skills with the ability to move fluidly across backend and cloud environments.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Hands-on production experience with AI/ML systems: benchmarking, fine-tuning, integrating LLMs, and running experiments in live environments.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Experience designing and maintaining production-grade systems with clean, scalable architecture.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Proven end-to-end ownership of features from initial design through to production deployment.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Experience building cloud-scale systems with a focus on scalability, reliability, and observability.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Strong CS fundamentals, intellectual humility, and exceptional self-discipline.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Founder-level drive, adaptability, and a results-oriented, autonomous work style.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Based in Munich or willing to relocate and work on-site.</p></li></ul><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Nice to Have:</strong></p><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Prior startup or entrepreneurial experience.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Experience or genuine interest in logistics, freight forwarding, or autonomous systems.</p></li></ul><h3>Compensation &amp; Benefits</h3><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Salary:</strong> €60,000 – €80,000 per year</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Equity:</strong> Meaningful early-employee options package (up to ~1.5%)</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">Opportunity to define and own the technical direction of a product with real market traction</p></li></ul><p style="min-height:1.5em"><em>Please note: visa sponsorship is not available for this role.</em></p><h3>Location</h3><p style="min-height:1.5em">This is a fully <strong>on-site role based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany</strong>. Candidates must be able to commute to or relocate to Munich.</p><p>Find more <a href="https://www.arbeitnow.com/english-speaking-jobs">English Speaking Jobs in Germany</a> on Arbeitnow</a>