Lead React + Node Engineer

1. Mentorcam is a marketplace for startup and business advice

Mentorcam connects its customers ("mentees") via 1:1 video calls to otherwise inaccessible founders, VCs, and industry experts ("mentors"). We are a marketplace - that means mentors & mentees come together on our platform in ways otherwise not possible. Our mission is to help startup founders and entrepreneurs grow by giving them access to the best advisors and mentors - if that means something to you, you're in the right place.

2. This is a startup, without so much of the risk

The sweet spot to join a startup is after the seed round and somewhere in the middle of the product-market fit cycle. That's where we are. We have raised $4M+ to date, and we have plenty of runway in the bank. We run lean, which means we don't have to raise any time soon, and we're good stewards of capital. We can afford to pay you a market salary comfortably, but more importantly we can provide a meaningful chunk of equity that has a de-risked chance of really being worth something.

3. Our team is startuppy, but we need tech help

Everyone who works on our team has a startup mindset; if you're applying to our company you should know what that means. Our technical co-founder is leaving on good terms with a long transition period. These are big shoes to fill, and you're going to be part of that. You can be confident there will be someone to help you train, answer Q&A as you ramp up, and there's no drama on the founding team (this matters, just dig thru PG's website for articles on co-founder disputes).

4. We need you to be a full-stack engineer with an eye for design

Our tech stack is React/Typescript on the front-end, Typescript/Node on the backend, with serverless Firebase/Firestore on the back end, deploying via Cloud Run. We really need you to be strong in these areas, this is the meat of what we do.

In the details, we are a Google stack A to Z with integrations into Algolia (Search), Stripe (payments), Bugsnag, Google Calendar, Dailyco (video), among others. We have an iOS app that is maintained by another dev, so that is a nice to have but not required. All of this is driven from the Firebase backend, so if the Force is Strong with your Google, this is the right job for you.

Lastly, it bears noting that our exiting CTO was a serious design geek. Our site's sleekness and pixel-perfect beauty is baked into the way the code is structured and deployed....everything is mocked in Figma ahead of time right down to the pixel. This is important to everyone on our team, and our customers. So if you're an engineer that thinks design is for the birds, this isn't the job for you.

5. There's room for growth here

We're going to start you out as an individual contributor taking the lead on technical responsibilities. Over time, our team will grow and we will need a proper CTO, but that time isn't now. If you have managed and mentored other engineers in the past that's a plus, but not a requirement. If you are not interested in that at all, that's also fine. As the org grows, you will have opportunities to move up, and manage (or not). We'd like to hear your opinions and questions on this.

6. This is a job for someone ready to make an impact

Startups are hard, and they are especially hard in the growth phase. Everyone on our team is "all in", which means we work hard to get the job done when it needs to be done, taking total ownership. If you are coming from a big company mindset, or if you are looking for a gig where you can "coast", this is definitely not the job for you. If you thrive in a high-stakes, small company mindset where there's minimal politics and high autonomy over your work (especially technically), this IS the job for you. The point is: know what you are getting into. Our team won't tolerate under-performance and we will test your skills and commitment up front to be sure you share our values.

7. The upside here is meaningful

We can afford to pay you a market salary comfortably, but more importantly we can provide a meaningful chunk of equity that has a de-risked chance of really being worth something. in addition to this, we offer platinum health care benefits and unlimited PTO.

8. This job is located in Los Angeles

We run out of a sleek space called NeueHouse in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles. Remember when we said design and aesthetics matter? Google for this space and you will see our space reflects that. We are small team of 8 right now, and while we don't see each other every day, we see each other at least once per week and we are often getting together for dinners, happy hours and beyond. The point is, this is a small team feel and culture, and you need to be here to be a part of it. To do great things, our culture and relationships matter.

We're open to relocating you, and if you aren't familiar with Venice Beach, let's just say it's "hip AF". It's the cool part of town, you'll like working here.

9. How to apply

If you are detail oriented, and you must be for this job, pay particular attention to this paragraph. We want you to write us and tell us who you are. This means: why do you want to work at a startup mentorship marketplace, how do you feel aligned with our mission, what is your personal situation and how does it lend itself to a startup, can you relocate to Los Angeles, and are you qualified to work in a design-first technical position that uses React/Typescript/Firebase/Google stack?

This is not a sir-or-madam cover letter; it's just an email being real with us about YOU. This is the most important thing in the application, and please do not use Chat GPT (we can tell). Just shoot us and informal note, be straightforward like this ad, and attach your resume.

Also, attach your resume! Don't forget this one.

Thanks for taking the time to read our novel, we look forward to learning more about who you are.