Job Info
Application
Why this role exists
Every brand wants to know what people really think of it, and whether that's getting better or worse. Measuring it continuously is brand tracking.
Globally, companies spend billions to get these answers. But brand tracking hasn't changed in decades. Agencies sell slow, expensive, hand-assembled reports.
We're building an AI-native platform with insights that are fast, continuous, and research-grade.
In only a few months, we've won Product Hunt, signed big-name clients, and been featured on a Times Square billboard. And we're only getting started.
We're looking for a founding engineer to help us build what comes next: extending a product that's already in clients' hands into the one that defines the category.
Who we are
Timelaps is founded by two experienced entrepreneurs, including the founder behind the largest digital research agency in Africa. We've built and scaled in this space before.
Our platform is live and earning. We're running multiple trackers across three continents and scaling into more regions every month. Our pipeline includes a growing roster of large regional and global brands.
We're based in the US and South Africa and operate with a global-from-day-one mindset. We have big ambitions and need an early team that understands what that means.
Why this is probably not for you
This is a unique role that simply isn't for everyone. This is not a good fit if:
You want a clear roadmap and stable priorities. If moving ground unsettles you, this will wear you down.
You need structure and process to do good work. You'd be the one building it, not inheriting it.
You like clean edges around your job. Here, the lines blur. If "that's not my job" is in your vocabulary, skip this one.
You're waiting to be told what to do. We need self-starters who take ownership from day 1.
You prefer to ship slow and steady after lots of checkpoints. We value quality but speed just as much.
In short, this is a startup, and you should want what that means.
Who we're looking for
If you're still reading, great. Here's what we're looking for:
A startup operator. You've built zero-to-one in fast environments, balanced speed against quality, and made good calls with incomplete information.
Full-stack. Strong on the front end and real depth on the back end.
Senior, and you've shipped production AI. Real systems in front of real users, not demos.
At home with data at scale. You've worked with large, expanding datasets and know where they break.
An owner, not a ticket-taker. You want product influence, not a queue.
A clear writer. We're remote-first, so writing is how decisions, trade-offs, and blockers get made visible, and how the team stays fast.
A lifelong learner. You may not be an expert in our tech stack or a category from day but always willing and able to learn fast and become a subject matter expert.
Beneficial: previous experience with martech, research tech, or data applications.
That's a lot, and we know it. You'll be the first technical hire that sets direction for a category-defining product, so the bar is high.
Your first 90 days
You'll be building on a stable product that's already in production and in daily use by real clients, not a prototype. The first stretch is about extending it:
Improving our AI features for data analysis and insight generation.
Adding market research depth, statistical tests, comparisons, and more.
Expanding the platform to meet the demands of a fast-growing client base.
The deal
Competitive salary plus founding-engineer-level equity. You'll have real upside in the success of the business.
Remote-first. We're flexible on location, especially for the right person.
A direct line to the founders and genuine influence over product, stack, and hiring.
How to apply
Email hello@timelaps.io or fill out the application form directly with your resume, LinkedIn profile, X profile, links to personal projects, and anything else that you think could be helpful or relevant.
Location
Remote-first
Employment Type
Full-Time
Department
Engineering
Compensation
Salary + Equity