Remote MERN Full‑Stack Developer – Equity‑Based Early‑Stage Startup Position for Passionate Cinema‑Tech Innovators
Welcome to the Future of Cinematic Experiences
Imagine a platform where movie lovers from every corner of the world can connect, share, and discover films together—where the magic of cinema extends beyond the theater screen and lives in the palms of your hands. Cinemaloop Inc. is turning that vision into reality, and we’re inviting a visionary MERN Full‑Stack Developer to join our founding team. This is more than a job; it’s an invitation to shape the next generation of movie‑going culture while enjoying the freedom of a fully remote, equity‑driven role.
About Cinemaloop Inc.
Cinemaloop is a tight‑knit collective of cinema enthusiasts, tech innovators, and creative storytellers. Our mission is to reinvent how audiences engage with movies by building an inclusive, socially‑driven platform that blends the excitement of film festivals, the intimacy of community watching parties, and the convenience of modern mobile experiences. Operating as a soft‑tech startup, we champion diversity, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of a cinema ecosystem that feels personal, interactive, and future‑proof.
Our flagship product, currently in a public pre‑release web version (cinemaloop.app), is designed to be location‑aware, community‑centric, and powered by cutting‑edge technologies. We’re preparing for a Beta launch in Los Angeles, and we need a passionate developer who lives and breathes film as much as code.
Why This Role Stands Out
Unlike traditional full‑time positions, this opportunity offers:
- Equity Ownership: Earn 0.5%–1% of the company, aligning your success directly with the platform’s growth.
- Remote Flexibility: Work from any location while collaborating across PST/EST time zones.
- Startup Agility: Contribute to a product that evolves weekly, with immediate impact on user experience.
- Creative Freedom: Shape product features from concept to launch without the layers of corporate bureaucracy.
Core Responsibilities – What You’ll Own
As our MERN Full‑Stack Developer, you’ll be at the heart of product development, translating user needs into robust, scalable code. Your weekly rhythm will include:
- Feature Development: Design, build, and deploy new functionalities for both the React web app and React Native mobile experience.
- Back‑End Architecture: Engineer Node.js services, RESTful APIs, and real‑time communication channels using Firebase.
- Performance Optimization: Conduct code reviews, profiling, and refactoring to ensure low latency and high reliability.
- Testing & QA: Implement unit, integration, and end‑to‑end tests with Jest, Cypress, or similar frameworks.
- Product Feedback Loop: Participate in weekly Zoom stand‑ups (Saturday 9 AM PST) and provide actionable insights based on user testing.
- Documentation: Maintain clear, concise technical documentation, including API specs, architecture diagrams, and onboarding guides for future developers.
- Continuous Deployment: Manage CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, Netlify, or Vercel to streamline releases.
Essential Qualifications – What We Require
To thrive in this fast‑moving environment, candidates should demonstrate the following core competencies:
- Proven MERN Expertise: Minimum 2 years of hands‑on experience with React, React Native, Node.js, and MongoDB.
- Firebase Proficiency: Experience building authentication, real‑time databases, and cloud functions.
- Remote Collaboration Skills: Ability to communicate clearly via Slack, Zoom, and project management tools across PST/EST time zones.
- Product Mindset: Passion for cinema and a desire to create user‑centric experiences.
- Self‑Motivation: Comfortable delivering weekly milestones without micromanagement.
- Version Control Mastery: Fluency with Git, branching strategies, and pull‑request workflows.
Preferred Qualifications – Bonus Points
Candidates who also bring the following assets will stand out:
- Experience with TypeScript and modern state‑management libraries (Redux, Zustand, or Recoil).
- Familiarity with serverless architectures and cloud providers (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
- Background in UI/UX design, with an eye for clean, accessible interfaces.
- Previous involvement in early‑stage startups or equity‑based roles.
- Knowledge of OTT platforms, streaming protocols, or cinema‑related technologies.
Technical Skill Set – The Toolbox
We rely on a stack that blends flexibility and scalability. Your day‑to‑day toolkit will include:
- Front‑End: React 18+, React Native (Expo or bare workflow), CSS‑in‑JS (styled‑components, Emotion), responsive design.
- Back‑End: Node.js (Express or Fastify), MongoDB Atlas, Mongoose ORM, Firebase Auth & Firestore.
- Testing: Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress, Firebase Emulator Suite.
- DevOps: GitHub Actions, Docker, Vercel/Netlify deployments, monitoring with Sentry or LogRocket.
- Collaboration: Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence), Notion for documentation, Figma for design hand‑offs.
Soft Skills – The Human Elements
While technical expertise is crucial, the following interpersonal attributes will help you integrate seamlessly into our culture:
- Curiosity: A relentless appetite to explore new frameworks, cinematic trends, and user behaviors.
- Communication: Ability to articulate technical concepts to non‑technical teammates, particularly in a remote setting.
- Adaptability: Comfort navigating shifting priorities, rapid pivots, and evolving product scopes.
- Collaboration: A team‑first mindset, celebrating collective wins and offering constructive feedback.
- Passion for Film: Genuine enthusiasm for movies, festivals, and community storytelling.
Compensation Structure – Equity & Future Salary
Initially, this role is funded entirely through equity, reflecting our early‑stage status and your integral contribution to product‑market fit. Qualified developers will receive between 0.5% and 1% common shares of a fully‑diluted pool that ranges from 100 million to 200 million shares. As we secure seed funding, the compensation model will evolve into a hybrid structure combining a competitive salary with the retained equity stake, ensuring long‑term financial upside.
Career Growth – Your Path Forward
Joining Cinemaloop at this pivotal moment places you on an accelerated career trajectory. As we transition from beta to launch, you will have opportunities to:
- Lead a growing engineering team, shaping hiring standards and technical culture.
- Influence product strategy, contributing to roadmap decisions based on analytics and user feedback.
- Gain exposure to fundraising processes, investor relations, and scaling operations.
- Branch into specialized areas such as machine‑learning‑driven recommendations or advanced streaming technologies.
- Participate in industry conferences, panels, and film festivals as the tech voice of Cinemaloop.
Learning & Development – Investing in Your Future
We believe that personal development fuels company success. As part of our team, you will receive:
- Access to premier online learning platforms (Udemy, Pluralsight, Coursera) for continuous skill sharpening.
- Mentorship from seasoned founders and engineers with experience in high‑growth tech ventures.
- Regular knowledge‑sharing sessions, hackathons, and “Lunch & Learn” events focused on emerging tech trends.
- Opportunities to attend film‑industry events, deepening your understanding of the domain you help build.
Work Environment & Culture – What It Feels Like at Cinemaloop
Our remote‑first philosophy is grounded in trust, autonomy, and clear communication. Expect a culture that:
- Values Action: Ideas move quickly to prototypes, and prototypes become features fast.
- Celebrates Diversity: We welcome perspectives from all backgrounds, fostering an inclusive cinematic community.
- Encourages Balance: While we thrive on rapid development, we also respect personal time and mental health.
- Fosters Fun: Weekly movie‑night watch parties, trivia contests, and virtual “pop‑corn breaks” keep the spirit alive.
- Embraces Transparency: Open financial updates, product metrics, and sprint retrospectives keep everyone aligned.
Application Process – How to Join the Journey
Ready to bring your code and cinema passion together? Follow these steps:
- Explore the Pre‑Release Product: Visit cinemaloop.app from a desktop, set your location to Los Angeles, and get hands‑on experience.
- Prepare Your Portfolio: Include demos, GitHub repos, or live links that showcase full‑stack work, especially React/React Native projects.
- Submit Your Application: Click the “Apply To This Job” button below and attach a concise cover letter explaining why cinema matters to you.
- Interview & Product Demo: Participate in a video call where you’ll discuss your experience and share insights on the pre‑release app.
- Equity Offer & Onboarding: Upon successful interview, receive an equity agreement and begin your first sprint.
Join Us and Shape the Future of Film Community
If you’re a driven developer who lives for code and cinema alike, this is your moment. Become a founding member of a venture that blends technology with storytelling, and watch your contributions illuminate screens worldwide. Apply today—let’s build the next chapter of movie‑going together.
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