When it comes to launching a startup, one of the most crucial hires you can make is a founding engineer. But what exactly does that mean?
Importance of Hiring the Right Founding Engineer
According to CB Insights, one reason startups fail is not hiring the right team. This highlights the importance of selecting a founding engineer who not only has technical expertise but also fits your startup’s vision and culture.
Your founding engineer(s) will be deeply involved in the strategy, partnerships, and hiring additional engineers while also rapidly developing your product. Their role will have a great influence on your organization’s growth and direction.
What is a Founding Engineer?
A founding engineer is one of the initial technical hires at a startup in its early stages. You can think of them as the link between your original concept and a fully operational product. They are usually tasked with creating the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and have a major impact on developing the company’s tech stack, culture, and overall growth trajectory.
What sets founding engineers apart from regular engineers is the substantial level of ownership and influence they hold. They embody a unique combination of being a key team member and a technical leader.
What Does a Founding Engineer Do?
The responsibilities of a founding engineer go way beyond just coding. Here’s a quick overview of what they typically handle:
Product Development: They’ll be knee-deep in building the first versions of the product, iterating based on early customer feedback.
Technical Leadership: Founding engineers make crucial decisions on architecture, infrastructure, and tooling.
Wearing Multiple Hats: From coding to DevOps, testing, and sometimes even product management, they do it all.
Establishing Best Practices: They set up the engineering processes that the future team will follow.
Can a Co-founder Also Be a Founding Engineer?
Absolutely! Many founding engineers start as co-founders, especially when the technical side of the business is core to the product. In this scenario, the founding engineer is more than just an early hire, they’re a partner in the business. They have a voice in strategy, product direction, and company vision.
However, it’s worth noting that not all co-founders are founding engineers. Sometimes a non-technical founder will hire a founding engineer to complement their skill set.
Skills and Characteristics to Consider in a Founding Engineer
Full-Stack Skills: Experience across the entire tech stack is a huge plus. They should be comfortable with frontend, backend, and infrastructure.
Problem-Solving: Founding engineers thrive in ambiguity and excel at finding creative solutions to complex problems.
High Ownership: They don’t wait to be told what to do; they take initiative and figure things out.
Communication: Look for someone who can translate technical jargon into understandable concepts for non-technical co-founders or investors.
Passion for Startups: You want someone who’s excited about the uncertainty and speed of early-stage startups.
How to Find a Founding Engineer
Leverage Your Network First
Start by reaching out to people in your immediate and extended network. Let everyone know you’re looking for a technical co-builder. Talk to friends, former colleagues, mentors, and industry connections. Often, the best candidates are referrals from people you already trust.
Be Visible in the Right Communities
Founding engineers tend to hang out in specific circles. These could be online forums, startup incubators, hackathons, or even niche Slack groups. Participate in these communities, share your vision, and start conversations.
Building relationships in these spaces can lead you to potential candidates who aren’t actively looking for jobs but are open to the right opportunity.
Craft a Compelling Pitch
When it comes to hiring a founding engineer, your job description needs to stand out. Founding engineers aren’t just looking for a paycheck, they want to solve meaningful problems and have a direct impact.
Highlight your startup’s mission, the problem you’re tackling, and the impact this role will have. Emphasize how they’ll shape the product and the company’s future.
Sell the Vision, Not Just the Job
This role is different from a standard engineering position. You’re looking for someone who’s excited about the long-term journey and not just the technical challenge.
Share your vision and roadmap. Explain why this is the right time to join. Founding engineers want to see the bigger picture. They need to believe in what you’re building and why.
Be Transparent About Compensation and Equity
Many startups fail to secure great candidates because they’re unclear about compensation. Founding engineers are taking a risk by joining an early-stage company, so it’s crucial to be upfront about the financials.
Outline the salary and, more importantly, the equity stake. Show them how their contributions will pay off as the company grows.
Partner with the Right Recruitment Agency
If your network and efforts aren’t yielding results, consider partnering with a recruitment agency experienced in placing high-level tech talent at startups. A specialized recruitment partner can connect you with qualified founding engineers who might not be on your radar.
Know the Factors to consider when Choosing for the Right Recruitment Partner
Finding the Right Recruitment Partner for Your Startup
How to Get Engineers Interested in the Founding Engineer Position
Emphasize Startup Vision: Engineers want to be part of something meaningful. Articulate the problem your startup is solving.
Highlight Impact: Founding engineers want to know their work will significantly impact the company’s future.
Offer Ownership: Equity is key. Provide a competitive equity package to show you value their contributions.
Transparency: Be open about the risks and challenges. The right candidates will appreciate your honesty.
Share Your Long-Term Plan: Founding engineers want to see that you have a roadmap and a realistic plan for growth.
Challenges in Finding the Right Founding Engineer
High Demand, Low Supply: Many engineers are wary of joining unproven startups and prefer more stable opportunities.
Balancing Skills and Cultural Fit: You need someone who’s technically brilliant but also clicks with the team and believes in the vision.
Learn how to Implement Culture Fit and Culture Add in Your Startup Hiring Process
Decoding Culture Fit and Culture Add in Hiring
Compensation Concerns: Many early-stage startups can’t offer market-rate salaries, so compensation often leans heavily on equity.
Founding Engineer Salary and Equity
When it comes to compensation, founding engineers are usually offered lower salaries in exchange for higher equity.
Salary: Depending on your funding stage and location, a founding engineer might earn between $150k and $210k annually.
Equity: Founding engineers typically receive between 0.8% and 5% equity, depending on their experience, contribution, and the stage at which they join.
Remember, equity should reflect their role as a core part of the team. The more senior and involved they are, the more equity you should offer.
Additional Insights:
How to Hire Your First Engineer as a Startup Founder
Final Thoughts
Hiring a founding engineer is a pivotal moment for any startup. They’re not just another technical hire; they’re a cornerstone of your company’s foundation. With the right person on board, you’ll be well on your way to turning your vision into reality.
So, take your time, look for that perfect fit, and get ready to build something amazing!
