Founding Engineer (AI)

Company DescriptionAt Optima.ai, we're crafting intelligent wealth for the new India. We're not here to just digitalize wealth management. We're here to redefine what intelligent wealth feels like — calm, clear, and crafted from first principles.How are we different?1) IntelligenceInstitutional-grade AI and quantitative research — carefully crafted for human context2) PersonalizationEach portfolio is built from scratch — engineered to dynamically evolve with you3) ExperienceYour thoughts to our actions — a wealth experience so delightful it will help you sleep better4) SafetyUnmatched transparency and security — well beyond just compliance requirementsCompensation Highlights- Top-of-market cash compensation (₹50L - ₹1Cr PA) - Free access to our employee-only investment fund - Health insuranceRole DescriptionWe are recruiting a generalist Founding Engineer (Backend) to build our core infrastructure- high-performance, reliable, and centered on rapid product evolution:- Take end-to-end ownership of backend systems, including the design, implementation, and operation of secure, scalable, and compliant services that form the backbone of the platform - Contribute across the stack and collaborate with teams across function areas to rapidly prototype, iterate, and deploy capabilities that deliver exceptional user experiences and measurable business impact - Stay on top of the fast-evolving landscape in AI-assisted development, experimenting with new capabilities that can enhance user experience, internal workflows, and development velocity - As an early team member, the Employee is expected to help institutionalise a culture of high performance, velocity, and accountability; take broad ownership; and build organisational capability through mentoring, process creation, and cross-functional problem solvingPreferred Background- Experience: 4+ years in software engineering (especially as a Founding Engineer or Co-Founder) - Education: Strong academic background from premier institutions - Prior Roles: Proven zero-to-one experience of quickly shipping high-quality products in fintech/wealthtech startups - Mindset: User empathy, relentless iterations, AI-native productivity, end-to-end ownership, and bias toward shipping - Bonus: Experience building AI agents - Or something untraditional that trumps all of the aboveCulture CodeFulfilment in your life's best workHigh talent densityA lean team of exceptional people moves faster and solves unstructured problems more effectively.Velocity over perfectionWe learn and iterate fast because we value compounding improvement more than immaculate beginnings.First-principles thinkingDare to make contrarian moves backed by fundamentals, and decide with clear intent because each release is a hypothesis.Client obsessionThere is no such thing as client error — only design error; so cultivate deep empathy and respect worthy of the client's trust.Honesty over nicenessSay what people need to hear, not what they want to hear, and actively seek feedback.Craft as characterWhat we build ends up building us, and reflects who we are, so treat excellence as a habit.Own the outcomeWe don't need heroes — we need people who don't wait for heroes; use your freedom to act in Optima's best interest and keep moving.Simplify to evolveRelentlessly distil complexity to bring clarity to our thinking, operations, and solutions for clients.ContactShare your resume and any relevant work (code, links, descriptions) directly with us at .

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