Founding Engineer
Location: Remote, with office space at Soho Works, 180 Strand, London.
About Us
At Virtuals, we're on a mission to revolutionise social media experience by making it more fun and less time-consuming while merging the virtual and real worlds. Leveraging generative AI, we aim to create new forms of creative expression and social interaction. Our platform empowers users and brands to create, nurture, and engage with AI-driven virtual characters in meaningful ways.
We're launching on a single university campus targeting Gen Z, with the vision of creating the next big social app powered by generative AI. Backed by top VCs and in partnership with Founders Factory and Pico, we're offering a unique opportunity to build something impactful from the ground up alongside an experienced founder.
The Role
We're seeking a passionate and skilled Founding Engineer to join our team. You'll play a pivotal role in developing our platform, shaping its direction, and bringing our innovative vision to life. This is your chance to make a significant impact on a product that could redefine social engagement.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with the founder to design and develop the core platform.
- Build and maintain scalable backend systems using Python or Node.js.
- Develop high-performance data processing pipelines.
- Implement frontend features using Next.js with React or React Native.
- Integrate generative AI APIs and work on prompt engineering.
- Experiment with new AI libraries and providers, including agents, experimental models, and APIs from emerging AI startups.
- Engage with university students to test and iterate on the platform based on direct feedback.
- Leverage AI tools to enhance productivity and streamline workflows.
- Contribute innovative ideas and participate in strategic decision-making.
Must-Have Skills and Experience
- AI Enthusiast: Interested in tinkering with new AI libraries and providers (e.g., agents, experimental models, new AI startups with API access). Familiarity with AI tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot is a plus.
- Full-Stack Engineering: Strong experience in backend development with languages such as Python or Node.js.
- Cloud DevOps: Proficient with cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
- Frontend Development: Comfortable working with Next.js with React or React Native to build user interfaces.
- Generative AI Expertise: Experience with prompt engineering and integrating Gen AI APIs.
- High-Performance Data Processing: Experience with data pipelines and databases like MongoDB.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Experience with Image and Video Generation: Working knowledge of AI models for generating visual content.
- Understanding of LORAs: Experience with Low-Rank Adaptation techniques.
- B2C and Social Media Experience: Background in consumer-facing products, social platforms, or gamification.
- Open Source Contributions: Active involvement in the open-source community.
- LLM Training: Hands-on experience training Large Language Models.
- Scaling Products: Experience scaling products to over 1 million users.
- Startup Experience: Comfortable balancing tech debt and working effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Previous Founder: Experience in founding or co-founding a startup.
- Mathematics or Related Degree: Academic background in mathematics or a similar field.
- Community Engagement: Influential contributor to online communities.
- Passion for Games: Interest in strategy games, optimization, or modding.
- Understanding of Human Behavior: Enthusiasm for human psychology and social interactions.
- Innovative Thinker: You're not afraid to experiment, iterate, and think outside the box.
- Continuous Learner: Evidence of ongoing learning and self-improvement.
Personality Traits
- Passionate Learner: You're constantly exploring new technologies and staying up-to-date with industry trends.
- Collaborative Team Player: You thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy working closely with others to achieve common goals.
- Proactive and Confident: You take initiative and are excited about building impactful solutions.
- Curious and Innovative: Energized by the potential of generative AI to transform social interactions.
- Adaptable and Resilient: Comfortable with change and ready to navigate the challenges of a startup environment.
Benefits and Culture
- Competitive Compensation: Salary negotiable, with a generous equity package—share in the company's success from the ground up.
- Flexible Working: Remote-first culture with optional in-person meetings and social events.
- Mission-Driven: Be part of building something with the potential to make a real difference in people's lives.
- Growth Opportunities: Work closely with experienced founders and top VCs to shape the future of social engagement.
- Inclusive Culture: We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.
How to Apply
If you're excited about the future of generative AI and social media and are ready to make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you, please submit an application!
