Founding Frontend Engineer (Staff)

Job Description :

Founding Frontend Engineer (Staff)

Job Summary

Variant is seeking a Founding Frontend Engineer to own and shape the frontend of our platform. This is a Senior II / Staff-level role based in San Francisco, CA. We are well-capitalized, backed by top investors, and focused on building software that blends engineering excellence with design creativity.

Key Details

Location : San Francisco, CA (On-site, 5 days a week)

Employment Type : Full-time

Salary Range : $180K - $230K

Equity : 0.10% - 1.25%

Visa Sponsorship : Available

Tech Stack : React, Next.js, Browser APIs, DOM

Responsibilities

Own the frontend development of the platform.

Design and implement performant, pixel-perfect components.

Collaborate closely with design-focused teammates to deliver world-class UX.

Balance quality with speed in a fast-paced startup environment.

Contribute beyond frontend when needed, as a T-shaped engineer.

Ship end-to-end features with minimal bureaucracy.

Requirements

610 years of software engineering experience, with strong focus on frontend.

Expertise in modern frameworks such as React, Next.js, Svelte, etc.

Deep understanding of the DOM, browser internals, and performance optimization.

Proven zero-to-one experience building products end-to-end.

Background at early-stage startups, YC founders, or top-tier tech companies.

Portfolio, open-source contributions, or shipped impactful products.

Strong communication skills, with the ability to disagree and follow through on commitments.

Required Skills :

Next.JS

Creativity

Balance

Salary

React

Features

Components

Communication Skills

Optimization

Software

Design

Engineering

Communication