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Founding Senior Engineer - Strala

Founding Senior Engineer
San Francisco, CA, USA
Full Time

About Strala

Strala is completely rebuilding the foundation of the world’s largest industry - Insurance Claims Processing.

In just three months, we reached six-figure ARR and raised a 13x oversubscribed $3.8M seed round from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, led by the partner who was early in OpenAI and Scale AI, and Emergence Capital. Our team comes from the top AI labs at Oxford, Cambridge, and ETH Zurich.

What We Are Looking For

  • Problem Solver - You love solving hard problems (and have a history of doing so).

  • High Agency & Ownership - You take charge and force things into existence - bonus points if you’ve been a CTO or founding engineer.

  • Proven Builder - 5+ years in Python and backend development, including 2+ years in startups (<50 people).

  • Infrastructure & Databases – Expert in PostgreSQL, vector databases, cloud (GCP, AWS), and Docker.

  • Scalability & Performance – Previously scaled systems 100x and shipped foundation model-based products.

  • APIs & Systems Design – Extensive experience with REST, GraphQL, GCP, AWS, Docker.

  • Bonus – Strong knowledge of LLM agents, including limitations, robustness, tools, and function calling.

Your First Month at Strala

  • Ship from Day 1 - You deploy to production on your first day and take full responsibility for your code.

  • Ownership - You create specs, figure shit out, build features & core infrastructure - all with a focus on scalability.

  • Leadership & Hiring - You find, hire, and lead a team of top-tier engineers.

Values

  • Ambition: We want to win, and we need to be the best.

  • Performance: Speed, system thinking, efficiency.

  • Ownership: When we see a problem, we take ownership of it, and we solve it.

  • Spirit: Clarity, optimism, meritocracy.

We Offer

  • Impact - Shape a company, redefine an industry, and make your code impact millions.

  • Intensity - Complex problems, ownership, 9-9-6 in-person in SF - we are here to solve problems and win.

  • Reward - Interesting work, top quartile salary, founding equity.

  • Team - Everyone on our team considers themselves the most competitive and intense person they have ever met - and we all come from the world’s best institutions.

  • Zero Barriers - We want the best people and will do whatever it takes. That includes full relocation support, covering all meals, and paying for any product that makes you more productive.

Average salary estimate

$160000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$120000K
$200000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Founding Senior Engineer - Strala, SourceDirect Talent

At Strala, we're on a mission to revolutionize the insurance claims processing industry, and we're looking for a Founding Senior Engineer to join our dynamically growing team in San Francisco. If you have a knack for solving complex problems and a proven record of building innovative software solutions, this is the role for you. As a Founding Senior Engineer, you'll have the rare opportunity to deploy code from day one and take complete ownership of your work. We value engineers who can think critically and act decisively, which is why we're keen on candidates with a strong background in Python and backend development, especially those who have experience in startups. Your role will involve developing scalable systems using tools like PostgreSQL, AWS, and Docker, while also honing in on APIs and systems design. In this position, you won't just code; you'll create specs, lead engineers, and influence the company's direction from the ground up. Our team consists of exceptional talent from top-tier institutions, and we offer an intense work culture that emphasizes ambition and performance. If you're ready to shape a company, redefine an industry, and deploy impactful code, we’d love to hear from you. Get ready for an exhilarating experience with a competitive team that thrives on solving tough problems every day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Founding Senior Engineer - Strala Role at SourceDirect Talent
What is the main responsibility of a Founding Senior Engineer at Strala?

The primary responsibility of a Founding Senior Engineer at Strala is to take ownership of software development right from day one. You will be responsible for deploying your code in production, developing scalable systems, and leading a team of engineers while ensuring that your solutions effectively drive the company’s mission forward.

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What qualifications do I need to become a Founding Senior Engineer at Strala?

To qualify for the Founding Senior Engineer position at Strala, you should have 5+ years of experience in Python and backend development. It's essential to have at least 2 years of startup experience, specifically with small teams, and proven expertise in databases, cloud infrastructure, and systems design.

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What can I expect in my first month as a Founding Senior Engineer at Strala?

In your first month as a Founding Senior Engineer at Strala, you can expect to deploy code to production right away. You'll be immersed in creating specifications, building features and core infrastructure, and hiring top engineers, giving you a meaningful leadership role from the start.

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How important is team collaboration for the Founding Senior Engineer at Strala?

Team collaboration is absolutely critical for a Founding Senior Engineer at Strala. You'll not only work alongside top-tier engineers but also lead them, ensuring effective teamwork to tackle the complex challenges in redefining the insurance claims processing industry.

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What values does Strala prioritize for the Founding Senior Engineer role?

Strala prioritizes values such as ambition, ownership, performance, and a spirit of clarity and optimism. As a Founding Senior Engineer, you'll be expected to embody these values in your work, driving the company toward its goals while fostering a competitive yet cooperative environment.

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Common Interview Questions for Founding Senior Engineer - Strala
Can you explain your experience with scalable systems?

When answering this question, highlight a specific project where you successfully scaled a system. Discuss the challenges faced, the technologies used, and the results achieved, emphasizing your technical proficiency and problem-solving skills.

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What is your approach to building APIs?

Your response should focus on how you design and implement APIs to ensure they are efficient, scalable, and user-friendly. Include your experience with REST and GraphQL, and potentially how you've used documentation to facilitate API integration.

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Describe a time you led a team to overcome a significant technical challenge.

Share a detailed account of a challenging project where you were responsible for coordinating team efforts. Highlight your leadership style, your communication strategies, and how you motivated your team to achieve success.

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How do you ensure code quality and performance?

Discuss techniques like code reviews, automated testing, and performance monitoring. Providing examples of how you've implemented quality control in previous projects will demonstrate your commitment to excellence.

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What experience do you have with cloud services like AWS or GCP?

Discuss specific projects that utilized AWS or GCP. Explain the services you used, why they were chosen for the project, and how they contributed to the overall scalability and reliability of the systems you developed.

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Can you give an example of how you've utilized Docker?

Highlight how you've used Docker for containerization in your projects. Discuss scenarios where Docker helped streamline development, improve deployment processes, or enhance system scalability.

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How do you handle project deadlines and pressure?

Your answer should reflect your time management and prioritization skills. Provide examples of how you met tight deadlines without sacrificing quality, illustrating your capability to work effectively under pressure.

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What strategies do you use for problem-solving in technical projects?

Discuss your systematic approach to problem-solving. You might touch on breaking down complex problems, consulting with teams, researching solutions, and implementing effective strategies based on your findings.

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How do you approach hiring new engineers?

Emphasize the qualities you look for in new hires, such as technical skills, cultural fit, and problem-solving abilities. Discuss how you evaluate candidates through technical interviews and what importance you place on collaboration and teamwork.

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What do you find most challenging in a startup environment?

Provide insight into challenges you've faced, such as rapidly changing priorities, limited resources, or the need for rapid problem-solving. Discuss how you navigated these challenges and what skills you employed to thrive in a startup.

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DATE POSTED
March 13, 2025

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