Full-Stack iOS Developer for Civic Media & AI Startup ( Founding Team)

• *THIS IS AN EQUITY ONLY POSITION** Location: Remote (U.S.) Start Date: Immediate Compensation: Equity-based during pre-seed build phase. Upon successful close of the anticipated $1,200,000 Pre-Seed Round, a transition to market-based salary may be negotiated, contingent upon funding terms, performance expectations, and mutual agreement. Eligibility: This position is open to candidates who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Due to the nature of our platform, licensing relationships, data governance requirements, and civic engagement focus, we are currently only considering U.S.-based applicants.Applicants must be able to enter into U.S.-based equity and contractual agreements. About Engage60 Engage60 is building a next-generation civic media platform designed to restore trust in public discourse and strengthen civic participation through structured engagement. We deliver verified 60-second civic stories and explainers powered by licensed journalism and AI-enhanced summarization. Each story includes structured interaction pathways that move users from passive consumption toward informed civic participation. Our early traction validated demand for credible, interactive civic media. We are now assembling a disciplined, execution-focused founding technical team. --- The Opportunity We are seeking a Founding Senior Full-Stack iOS Developer to join our founding technical team and help architect and build Engage60 from the ground up. You will work directly with the CTO, UI/UX designer, and founding leadership to design, build, and deploy the platform’s core mobile and backend systems. This is a true builder role — not maintenance, not feature iteration — foundational architecture. --- Key Responsibilities • Architect and build the Engage60 iOS application (future Android expansion anticipated). • Collaborate closely with the CTO on system design, infrastructure, and AI integration. • Implement structured engagement systems and feed logic. • Integrate AI-based summarization, video tooling, and licensed news APIs. • Build high-performance short-form feed mechanics optimized for mobile. • Develop and maintain scalable backend infrastructure (Node.js / Python / Firebase / AWS or comparable). • Contribute to establishing engineering standards, documentation practices, and security posture from day one. --- Qualifications • 5+ years of full-stack or mobile development experience (Swift, React Native, Flutter, or comparable). • Backend development experience (Node.js, Python, Firebase, AWS, or similar stack). • Experience working with APIs, content pipelines, and scalable data architecture. • Familiarity with AI integration, automation systems, or recommendation logic preferred. • Startup or early-stage build experience strongly preferred. • Demonstrated ability to ship and own production-level systems. • Personal interest in civic engagement, media integrity, or institutional trust is a plus. --- What This Role Offers • Founding-level equity participation. • Full salary beginning immediately upon successful Pre-Seed close. • Direct influence over platform architecture and technical direction. • Close collaboration with founding leadership and investor exposure. • Opportunity to build a nationally visible civic technology platform from inception. --- Work Location: Remote Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract Expected hours: 15 – 30 per week Work Location: Remote Apply tot his job Apply To this Job