Founding Engineer - Abacus
Role Overview
As a Founding Engineer, you will lead the development and scaling of the ML-powered document extraction engine using LLMs and OCR, architect backend systems for performance, and build new automation features for tax firms. This is a senior-level role with high ownership, reporting directly to co-founders, where you will have massive autonomy to influence product direction and help lay the groundwork for the engineering org.
Perks & Benefits
This role offers significant equity, top-tier health insurance, daily lunches, and an in-office barista, but requires working 5 days a week from the NYC office with no remote flexibility. You'll have no ceiling on growth, a high-leverage role in a fast-growing startup, and the chance to define the product, team, and company trajectory.
Full Job Description
About Abacus
Abacus is reinventing how accounting firms operate by building AI agents that automate the tedious, repetitive workflows that teams currently face. Our core engine combines advanced OCR and LLMs to deliver truly intelligent back-office automation. We're already working with large enterprise clients, generating meaningful revenue, and backed by top-tier investors. We’ve accomplished all of this as a team of two, and we’re excited to grow our team. If you want to shape the future of AI-powered operations and own meaningful technical work from day one, this is the place.
The Role
We're hiring our first Founding Engineer to own and expand the core machine learning engine behind Abacus. You’ll report directly to the co-founders and work in person from our SF office. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-growth company as an early engineer with massive autonomy and influence over product and technical direction.
In your first 3–6 months, you’ll:
Improve and scale our ML extraction engine using LLMs and OCR
Own backend architecture and infrastructure decisions
Build and ship greenfield features to expand the workflows we automate
Over the next year, you'll help lay the groundwork for our engineering org as we scale, while staying hands-on and focused on impact.
What You’ll Do
Lead development of our ML-powered document extraction engine
Architect backend systems with performance and scalability in mind
Build and deploy new automation features for tax firms
Collaborate closely with the founders on product and user needs
Help define our engineering culture and technical roadmap
What We're Looking For
Must-haves:
1–5 years of experience, ideally in high-ownership or early-stage environments
Strong backend development skills, particularly in Python
Proven 0→1 builder (side projects, startup experience, or both)
Willingness to work from our SF office, 5 days/week
Willingness to complete a technical take-home exercise as part of the process
Nice-to-haves:
Experience with LLMs, OCR, or data extraction systems
Exposure to AI infrastructure or evaluation frameworks
Why Join Us
No ceiling on ownership or growth
Significant equity and high-leverage role at a fast-growing startup
Top-tier health insurance, daily lunches, and an in-office barista
You’ll help define the trajectory of the product, team, and company!
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