{"id":1727146,"url":"https://alion.io/job/8vc-software-engineer-meritfirst-2","title":"Software Engineer - MeritFirst","company":{"id":669702,"name":"8VC","domain":"8vc.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/8vc","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":true,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":null},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Austin, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":125000,"max_usd":260000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":7868},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Next.js","optional":false},{"name":"PostgreSQL","optional":false},{"name":"React.js","optional":false},{"name":"TypeScript","optional":false},{"name":"Vercel","optional":false},{"name":"JavaScript","optional":true},{"name":"LLM","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-01-29T20:49:29Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-01-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-14T02:45:38Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":257,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":257},"description":"About MeritFirst\nAt MeritFirst, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how companies identify and evaluate talent, regardless of background. By rejecting outdated, unreliable proxies for capability and embracing objective, merit-based assessments, we are rebuilding the meritocratic infrastructure of opportunity from the ground up.\nRole Overview\nAs a Software Engineer at MeritFirst, you’ll be responsible for developing, testing, and deploying software solutions that meet the needs of our users. You’ll take features from initial idea to live product. Your work will power real-time assessments, AI workflows, and tools that hiring managers rely on to build excellent teams. You will help transform the way organizations discover and empower talent across industries, setting a new standard for merit-based hiring.\nWhat You’ll Do\nOwn features end-to-end: work with our CEO, company partners, and candidate users to define scope and sketch UX.\n\nBuild with Next.js + TypeScript, wire up data in Postgres / Drizzle, ship on Vercel, and iterate.\n\nShape product direction: propose experiments, cut scope intelligently, and use data and feedback to guide future decisions.\n\nKeep things fast and reliable: instrument analytics / telemetry, write tests, review PRs, and improve performance and developer ergonomics.\n\nQualifications\nMust-Haves\nMeaningful experience building production web apps withTypeScript / React / Next.js and Postgres (impact > exact years).\n\nAbility to design clean DB schemas, write performant queries, and reason about cost.\n\nProduct mindset: enjoy clarifying the core problem and delighting users through UX polish.\n\nCrisp communication: written and async, and a bias toward action and ownership over waiting for direction.\n\nNice-to-Haves\nExperience with real-time video or proctoring technology, AI/LLM pipelines, or large-scale assessment platforms.\n\nPassion for meritocracy and building products that broaden access to opportunity.\n\nWhy Join Us?\nAutonomy: rapid growth with outsized ownership and scope.\n\nModern stack: TypeScript, Next.js, Postgres, Drizzle, Vercel, LLMs.\n\nMeritocracy: We focus on real capabilities, not credentials. You’ll be assessed based on your skills and ability to execute, not the name of your school or employer.\n\nInnovation: Work on cutting-edge projects that challenge the status quo and empower people to succeed.\n\nBacked by the best: We’re funded by 8VC and Slow Ventures, with support from world-class builders like Joe Lonsdale and Sam Lessin who’ve helped scale some of the most influential tech companies of the last decade.\n\nOur Process\nWe practice what we preach. Core to our thesis is that resumes, school names, and pedigree are poor proxies for capability. We want to see what you can actually do.\nWe have designed a hiring process that gives everyone a fair shot to showcase their skills through objective work samples.\nThe Steps:\nAssessment 1 (The Gateway): Linked here. Want to jump the line? You can start this right now. We prioritize candidates who have data on the board.\n\nTeam Screen: A conversation with a member of our team to discuss your background, our company, and the results of your first assessment.\n\nAssessment 2 (The Deep Dive).\n\nWork Sample Debrief: A deep-dive interview where we discuss your approach to Assessment 2.\n\nFinal Sync: A final conversation with one or more members of our team.\n\nImportant Note on Location:\nWe are an in-person team based in Austin, TX. We believe the speed of iteration required at this stage happens best when we are in the same room.\nThe \"No Dead Ends\" Guarantee:\nEven if this specific role isn't the right fit - or if the location doesn't work out - your effort won't be wasted. By completing our assessments, you will create a verified profile in the MeritFirst Talent Network. 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