Full Stack Developer

We are seeking a talented Full-Stack Developer as one of our first hires. Willow is a web app that also includes a WhatsApp interface for user interactions, and we are currently using Twilio for messaging capabilities. This role reports to the Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) and is ideal for someone passionate about building meaningful products and committed to long-term growth with our company. Our current tech stack includes Next.js on Vercel, PostgreSQL on Neon, AWS S3 for storage, Clerk for authentication, OpenAI integrations, and Linear as our collaboration tool. These technologies support our mission to build a scalable, user-friendly platform that connects families and preserves their stories. We’re open to evolving as we grow, and we value flexibility in adopting new technologies. If you’re adaptable, excited about AI and conversational interfaces, and eager to contribute to a product that helps families connect and heal, we’d love to hear from you.

**Responsibilities**:

- Feature Development: Ensure that all features align with the company's branding guidelines, working with other team members to establish or evolve these guidelines to provide a consistent and cohesive user experience.Ensure that all features are accessible to users with disabilities, following best practices for accessibility and inclusive design. Own and oversee end-to-end development, from concept to deployment and beyond. Continuously improve and scale the Story-Telling Guide, E-Memoir, and Family Tree features. The Story-Telling Guide helps users craft narratives about their loved ones, while the E-Memoir feature compiles these stories into a digital memoir for lasting remembrance.
- Innovation and Integration: Explore and implement new technologies, including AI and machine learning, to enhance product capabilities. Develop and maintain a WhatsApp interface for user interactions, leveraging Twilio for messaging capabilities. Integrate third-party services and APIs to expand functionality and improve user experience.
- Agile Development: Work with Agile principles and values, ensuring iterative progress, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
- Mentorship: As the team grows, mentor junior developers and contribute to building a strong engineering culture.

**Qualifications**:

- Technical Expertise:

- We are looking for developers with strong experience in Next.js, as it is a key part of our technology stack. Your expertise will be instrumental in building and scaling our platform effectively.
- Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in full-stack development or a similar role.
- Strong experience with PostgreSQL or other relational databases, including tasks such as designing schemas, writing complex queries, and optimizing performance for scalability.
- Knowledge of authentication systems like Clerk, Auth0, or similar.
- Experience integrating OpenAI or other AI services.
- Full-Stack Development:

- Experience working with design systems to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.
- Experience with unit testing and end-to-end (E2E) testing; familiarity with Jest and Playwright is preferred.
- Good understanding of REST API principles to build and maintain reliable, efficient, and scalable APIs.
- Solid understanding of front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and back-end development.
- Experience with API development at scale.
- Adaptability: Eagerness to learn and work with new technologies as our stack evolves, including cross-functional projects or new frameworks.
- Soft Skills: Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail. Strong communication skills and experience with remote collaboration tools and best practices. Self-motivated with a proactive approach to work.

Preferred Qualifications
- GenAI / Conversational AI Expertise: Experience building conversational interfaces or integrating AI-driven features.
- Startup Experience: Familiarity with the dynamics of working in a fast-paced startup environment.
- Technical Leadership: Experience leading projects or teams, with a vision for long-term technical growth.

What We Offer
- Meaningful Work: Contribute to a product that makes a real difference in people’s lives by preserving family memories.
- Competitive Compensation: Fair pay and benefits for your expertise and contributions.
- Equity Opportunities: Potential to earn equity as we grow, sharing in the company’s success.
- Professional Growth: Opportunities to take on more responsibility, advance your career, and grow into roles like Product Manager or Technical Lead as the company scales.
- Flexible Work Environment: Remote work with flexible hours, allowing you to balance work with your personal life.
- Collaborative Culture: Be part of a team that values your ideas, encourages innovation, and supports each other's growth.
- Open Vacation Policy: We trust our team members to take the time they need to recharge and stay productive.

How to Apply