As a Founding Engineer, you will build the core primitives that allow AI agents to communicate and operate as independent entities. You'll design high-throughput email infrastructure and APIs, bridging cutting-edge LLM capabilities with foundational messaging protocols. This is a systems-heavy role where you'll own projects end-to-end for a rapidly scaling user base.
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Founding Engineer at Generalcatalyst
Join Generalcatalyst.com as a Founding Engineer and build the foundational identity and communication layer for the AI agent era. You'll work with an elite team from NVIDIA and Optiver to design the infrastructure primitives that agents need to operate independently. If you're a systems expert who loves 0 to 1 challenges and wants to define how AI interacts with the world, this San Francisco-based role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of the internet.
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Jack finds you jobs at companies like Generalcatalyst. Talk to Jack to get considered for roles that fit what you're great at.
Location
San Francisco, United States
Compensation
$150k-$250k + Equity
Company
Generalcatalyst
Role overview
Finance
General Catalyst is a global venture capital and investment firm partnering with entrepreneurs from seed stage to growth, specializing in transformational investments across sectors including technology, healthcare, fintech, and applied artificial intelligence. Founded in 2000, the firm manages $40+ billion assets under management as of June 2025 and has a portfolio of over 800 companies such as Airbnb, Stripe, HubSpot, and Snap. With offices in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Berlin, Bangalore, and London, General Catalyst collaborates with founders to drive innovation, global resilience, and technology transformation.
What you will do
- Design and implement high-performance, low-latency APIs and abstractions specifically tailored for AI agents rather than human end-users.
- Scale distributed systems and core infrastructure that currently processes hundreds of thousands of emails daily, aiming for massive future volume.
- Bridge the gap between modern AI capabilities and primitive communication protocols like email to create a seamless agent identity provider.
Who this is a fit for
- Proven track record of shipping production software and managing core infrastructure at a high-growth tech company or startup.
- Strong backend and systems engineering instincts, with the ability to handle distributed systems, developer tools, or protocol-heavy messaging.
- Exceptional problem-solving skills and a high bar for quality, thriving in fast-paced environments where speed and detail are critical.
Why this role is remarkable
- Join as one of the first 10 employees at a YC S25 company defining a new category of infrastructure for the agentic era.
- Work alongside a world-class team from Optiver, NVIDIA, and Modern Treasury, backed by top-tier investors like General Catalyst and Paul Graham.
- Influence the fundamental design of how AI agents interact with the world, moving from 0 to 1 in a high-growth environment.
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Jack gets to know what you're great at and what you want next, then searches 15 million jobs daily and helps you discover roles at companies like this.
Meet Jack
What happens next?
Jack’s an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack’s network.
If your profile’s a match and Generalcatalyst wants to meet, Jill will make the intro. In the meantime, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.