Founding engineers aren't on job boards. They're shipping at someone else's startup, waiting for the right call.
First briefs in 24 hours · full shortlist in ~3 days · non-exclusive
A founding engineer decides what your company can build for the next five years. The ones worth the title rarely apply anywhere — they get pulled into projects by people they trust. Nagly makes that pull: it headhunts engineers with real zero-to-one range from the outside market, pre-screens them against your stack and your stage, and puts the first briefs in your inbox within 24 hours.
Has shipped a real product from zero — not just features inside someone else's architecture.
Comfortable owning everything: stack choices, infra, product calls, and the 2am pager.
Motivated by ownership and equity upside, not just a salary bump — they want a seat, not a job.
What I screen for: Products they built end-to-end, breadth across the stack, evidence they choose boring-but-right technology, and a genuine reason for wanting early-stage risk right now.
The role, the stage, the two or three things that actually matter. No intake forms.
Real, pre-screened founding engineer candidates sourced on demand for your role — not a recycled rolodex.
The person and why they fit, ready to talk. Full shortlist in about 3 days. Non-exclusive, one-page agreement.
Tell me about the Founding Engineer role — first briefs in your inbox within 24 hours.