Founding Software Engineer
on-site•Berlin, San Francisco•€80k - €160k+ 0.50% - 1.50%
Summary
Location
Berlin, San Francisco
Salary
€80k - €160k
Equity
0.50% - 1.50%
Workplace
On-site
Experience
1-10 years
Company links
About this role
About This Role
We're building the world's first AI motion designer that creates professional animations in seconds. This is our first hire. You won't just be an engineer, you'll be a founding member shaping the technical foundation of a company that will enable 5% of the world's population to create video content. You will partner with the founders to deliver user-centric product solutions from concept to production, own end-to-end development of full-stack features with scalable architecture design, build and optimize agentic LLM systems incorporating tool-calling, multi-step reasoning, and MCP protocols, design comprehensive LLM evaluation frameworks with automated benchmarks, human-in-the-loop validation, and A/B testing, optimize LLM inference performance, cost efficiency, and latency across multiple model architectures, develop a high-performance motion graphics engine, and drive architectural decisions that support scalable growth to millions of users.
Interview process
- 1Interview
What you'll do
- Partner with the founders to deliver user-centric product solutions from concept to production
- Own end-to-end development of full-stack features with scalable architecture design
- Build and optimize agentic LLM systems incorporating tool-calling, multi-step reasoning, and MCP protocols
- Design comprehensive LLM evaluation frameworks with automated benchmarks, human-in-the-loop validation, and A/B testing
- Optimize LLM inference performance, cost efficiency, and latency across multiple model architectures
- Develop a high-performance motion graphics engine
- Drive architectural decisions that support scalable growth to millions of users
About Hera (YC S25)
Hera is the first AI motion designer that creates professional animations through conversation. Unlike video-gen tools, Hera generates code-based animations where every parameter can be fine-tuned through prompts or on-canvas editing, giving users the control of After Effects with the simplicity of Lovable. Grew to 6-figure ARR in under 10 days after public launch. YC S25.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hera (YC S25) pay for a Founding Software Engineer?
Hera (YC S25) offers a competitive compensation package for the Founding Software Engineer role. The salary range is EUR 80k - 160k per year, plus 0.50% - 1.50% equity. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.
What does a Founding Software Engineer do at Hera (YC S25)?
As a Founding Software Engineer at Hera (YC S25), you will: partner with the founders to deliver user-centric product solutions from concept to production; own end-to-end development of full-stack features with scalable architecture design; build and optimize agentic LLM systems incorporating tool-calling, multi-step reasoning, and MCP protocols; and more.
Is the Founding Software Engineer position at Hera (YC S25) remote?
The Founding Software Engineer position at Hera (YC S25) is based in Berlin, Germany and San Francisco, United States and is on-site. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.
How do I apply for the Founding Software Engineer position at Hera (YC S25)?
You can apply for the Founding Software Engineer position at Hera (YC S25) directly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.