Clera

US Founding Engineer

United States full-time Executive $200,000 - $400,000
full-time Executive level Technology & IT Salary listed Curated
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About the role

About the Role
Join an early-stage financial technology team building core banking infrastructure for digital assets and AI. As a founding engineer for US operations, you will own backend systems end-to-end and help shape a programmable banking platform.
What You'll Do

Ship production code early while learning the codebase, product, and banking domain.

Lead major individual-contributor projects from initial design through production.

Turn complex financial and banking requirements into reliable software that operates at scale.

Make system design, data modeling, and architecture decisions for production systems.

Work with engineering, product, and clients to evolve core banking capabilities.

Build automation that reduces recurring manual work, favoring simple, maintainable solutions.

What We're Looking For

At least 3 years of hands-on backend software engineering experience and 1 or more years in an early-stage or small startup.

Production backend or systems engineering experience, including work on banking, financial systems, or core infrastructure at scale.

Experience owning significant projects from conception to production and making technical decisions in live systems.

Ability to ship and iterate promptly while maintaining clean, reliable code.

A strong sense of ownership and comfort working in new domains without an established playbook.

Interest in core banking systems and financial infrastructure.

Willingness to work on-site in New York or relocate.

Compensation & Benefits
Annual base salary of $200,000 to $400,000, plus equity. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, relocation support, and professional development resources. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Location
On-site in New York, New York. Relocation support is available.
Originally posted on Himalayas

Interview prep

Walk in with sharper answers.

Use this as a quick practice sheet before you speak with the employer.

Executive
Technology & IT Operations Founding Engineer Technology Executive level full-time

Likely questions

  1. Tell us about work you have done that is close to the US Founding Engineer role.
  2. How would you approach your first 30 days at Clera?
  3. Which of Operations, Founding and Engineer have you used recently, and what did it help you achieve?
  4. How have you led people, improved a process, or made a hard decision in a previous role?
  5. How do you handle busy days, changing priorities, or pressure at work?

Prepare before the call

  • A recent example that proves your experience with Operations, Founding and Engineer.
  • One short story with a problem, your action, and the result.
  • Two examples that show the strengths listed on your CV.
  • A clear reason why this role and company interest you.
  • Your availability, preferred work style, and salary expectations.

Ask them

  • What would success look like in the first 90 days?
  • What are the main problems this hire should help solve?
  • How does the team give feedback and measure good work?
  • What does a normal working week look like for this role?
Practice line

I am interested in the US Founding Engineer role because I can bring practical experience in Operations, Founding and Engineer, learn the team quickly, and contribute to the outcomes Clera needs from this hire.

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