Founding Engineer

Company: Benana - Free & Open Source AI ERP for Schools & Colleges Location: Remote Employment Type: Full-Time Compensation: Competitive Salary + Significant Equity Application Deadline: Rolling basis Preferred Experience: 1 to 2 years Tech Stack: Python, FastAPI & ReactAbout BenanaBenana is revolutionizing educational technology with the world's first truly universal, AI-first school ERP platform. Built with Python and FastAPI for rapid development and featuring our revolutionary FastConfig™ technology, we're creating a new paradigm where any school or college worldwide can deploy enterprise-grade management software in just 10 minutes—completely free.Benana operates as a non-profit organization, funded by sponsors who believe in democratizing educational technology. This sustainable funding model ensures we remain true to our mission while providing growth opportunities for our team as we secure additional sponsorships.The OpportunityWe're seeking our first Founding Engineer to join the core team and help build Benana from the ground up. This is not just a developer role—you'll be a key early team member with significant influence over technical direction, product strategy, and company culture.As a Founding Engineer, you'll work directly with the founders to architect the entire platform, make critical technical and product decisions, and establish the engineering foundation that will scale to serve millions of students worldwide. You'll have the autonomy and ownership that comes with being among the first hires, along with equity that reflects your foundational contribution.This is a rare opportunity to join at the earliest stage, shape the company's trajectory, and build something truly impactful in the education space.What Makes This Role UniqueFounder-Level ImpactShape the technical architecture and product roadmap from day oneMake strategic decisions about technology choices, infrastructure, and scalingDefine engineering culture, processes, and best practices for the growing teamInfluence company direction through direct collaboration with foundersWear multiple hats: engineer, architect, product thinker, and strategistGround Floor OpportunityJoin as one of the first employees with significant equity upsideBuild features that will directly impact millions of students and educatorsEstablish yourself as a key technical leader in a fast-growing startupExperience the full 0-to-1 journey of building a startup from scratchCreate lasting impact on how educational institutions worldwide manage operationsOwnership & AutonomyOwn entire features and systems end-to-endMake technical decisions without layers of approvalExperiment with cutting-edge technologies and approachesBuild the engineering team and culture as we growHave a direct voice in product, business, and strategic decisionsWhat You'll DoTechnical Ownership (70%)Architect the platform: Design and build scalable backend systems using Python and FastAPIBuild core features: Develop the FastConfig™ template system, AI integrations, and ERP modulesFull-stack development: Create intuitive React interfaces connected to robust APIsDatabase architecture: Design schemas and optimize queries for PostgreSQL/MySQLAI/ML integration: Implement LLM capabilities using OpenAI, Anthropic, or open-source modelsInfrastructure: Set up CI/CD pipelines, deployment systems, and monitoringCode quality: Write comprehensive tests and establish engineering standardsPerformance: Optimize for speed, scalability, and reliability from the startStrategic Contribution (30%)Product decisions: Collaborate with founders on feature prioritization and roadmapTechnical strategy: Make architectural choices that will scale with the companyHiring & mentoring: Help recruit and onboard future engineering team membersProcess building: Establish development workflows, code review practices, and documentationStakeholder engagement: Work with early adopter schools to understand needs and gather feedbackCommunity building: Help grow the open source community around BenanaWhat We're Looking ForEssential QualitiesBuilder mentality: You love creating things from scratch and seeing them come to lifeOwnership mindset: You take full responsibility for your work and its impactAdaptability: You thrive in ambiguity and can pivot quickly as needs evolveStrategic thinking: You consider long-term implications of technical decisionsMission alignment: You're passionate about democratizing education technologySelf-direction: You can work independently and drive projects without micromanagementCommunication: You articulate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiencesTechnical SkillsFull-Stack Expertise: 1-2 years building production applications with Python and React (or comparable experience through substantial projects)Python & FastAPI: Strong proficiency in Python, async programming, and building high-performance APIsReact Development: Deep understanding of modern React patterns, hooks, and state managementDatabase Design: Experience with relational databases, SQL, and ORMs (SQLAlchemy, Tortoise ORM)API Architecture: RESTful design principles, authentication, and security best practicesSystem Design: Ability to architect scalable systems and make infrastructure decisionsVersion Control: Expert with Git workflows and collaborative developmentProblem Solving: Strong algorithmic thinking and debugging capabilitiesPreferred ExperienceBuilt 0-to-1 products or features, ideally in a startup environmentExperience with TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, or cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)AI/ML integration or working with LLM APIs and prompt engineeringOpen source contributions or maintained projectsEducational technology, SaaS, or B2B platform experienceLed technical projects or mentored other developersExperience with testing frameworks (pytest, Jest, React Testing Library)Understanding of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines