Founding Engineer (Native Mobile & Full Stack)
Summary
First engineering hire at a pre-seed, privacy-first social/community platform for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, working directly with the CTO to shape the stack. The role centers on native iOS/Android development (with interactive, gaming-adjacent features) plus full-stack support for complementary web surfaces, built around GDPR and data sovereignty.
Compensation: 1.0% – 3.0%
About ProudZone
Millions of 2SLGBTQ+ people around the world cannot safely access community life. Find support, get information, and find entertainment where they live. ProudZone is building the online neighborhood they deserve — a privacy-first ecosystem connecting people with community, information, and support, safely and on their own terms.
We are pre-seed, international, and fully remote — with a founding team across Germany, Canada, and Portugal.
The opportunity
We have laid the first stone — a safety-critical support directory that established our technical and editorial standards. Now we are building the ecosystem around it, and that ecosystem is native mobile by design.
You would be the first engineering voice in the room. Working directly with our CTO, you help shape a technical foundation that spans native mobile apps, community features, and entertainment surfaces — including interactive and gaming-adjacent experiences built with the same care for safety and privacy as everything else we make. The real build is still ahead — and you would be here from the beginning.
What you own
- Native mobile development across iOS and Android — this is your primary surface, not an afterthought
- Interactive and gaming-adjacent features on mobile — bring examples of what you have shipped: community apps, multiplayer experiences, real-time features, or games that put user safety first
- Full stack support across web surfaces built to complement the mobile experience
- Privacy-first architecture — EU hosting, GDPR alignment, data sovereignty baked in from day one
- Code built to last, not just to ship
- Technical input on stack decisions the CTO will eventually own
- Async collaboration across a small, focused founding team in multiple time zones
What we are looking for
- Native mobile depth — React Native, Swift, Kotlin, or a combination — with real shipped apps
- Experience building interactive or gaming-adjacent features on mobile
- Full stack fluency to own the surface from device to backend
- Strong instincts around privacy, security, and data sovereignty
- Comfortable working async and independently
- Someone who cares about what they build — not just how
Familiarity with or connection to the 2SLGBTQ+ community is not required. A genuine commitment to building safely for vulnerable communities is.
How we start
A 4–8 week trial collaboration — a low-risk way for both of us to see how we work together before committing to the full founding role.
Equity and compensation
Equity-only while pre-funding. When ProudZone reaches funding, compensation transitions to a salary structure.
Equity range: 1–3% fully diluted. That is our starting point, not a ceiling.