Location: Dublin City Centre (on-site ideally, potential flexibility case-by-case)
Compensation: Up to €140,000 + equity

You know those moments when you look at something new and think: "That's actually different"?
This is one honestly of those.

We're working with a small Dublin startup led by founders who've built and sold multiple companies before. They're tackling one of the most interesting engineering problems in AI right now.. not "how do we make another chatbot?", but how do we turn messy, real-world conversations into systems that think, learn, and scale?

They've built the foundations, closed early funding, and now want to bring in another experienced engineer to help take things to the next level.

This isn't a research lab or a corporate AI initiative. It's a fast-moving, engineering-first environment where code quality, scalability, and design matter just as much as clever models.

You'll spend most of your time (80%) building robust systems - backend, infrastructure, data pipelines - and about 20% experimenting with the Python-based AI stack. The CTO is happy to mentor on the AI side if the experience isn't already there, but what he really needs is someone who can help make the whole thing work.

You'll own major parts of the system, work directly with the founders, and have a genuine voice in how the product AND the company, evolves.

• Design and scale core backend systems handling real-time data.

• Work across a modern stack - TypeScript, Node.js, Postgres, Drizzle ORM, gRPC/REST, AWS.

• Collaborate on integrating new AI workflows (Python, LLM orchestration, retrieval, embeddings).

• Improve reliability, observability, and developer experience across the platform.

• Shape technical standards and influence early engineering culture.
  
  

• Strong backend or full-stack engineering experience (distributed or data-heavy systems ideal).

• Proficiency in TypeScript / Node.js, with some Python exposure or interest.

• Deep understanding of engineering fundamentals - clean architecture, testing, scaling.

• Familiarity with Postgres and cloud environments (AWS preferred).

• Curiosity about AI and a willingness to learn how to design real-world ML systems.

• A builder mindset - practical, fast-moving, and happiest when solving tough problems.
  
  

Shape something from scratch - join a team of ex founders at an exciting builder stage.
Learn AI by building it - get mentored directly by a CTO who's designed production-grade AI systems.
Real ownership - strong salary (up to €140k) and founder-level equity.
No red tape - everyone builds, everyone ships, and ideas move fast.
Career-defining environment - ideal if you're a strong engineer ready to stretch into a space most people are only reading about. Clear pathway to Director or CTO level, fast tracked.

If you're a senior engineer who loves great engineering, enjoys autonomy, and wants to learn how AI systems are really built - this could be your next big chapter. Please apply today as interviews are ongoing as we speak.

To speak in absolute confidence about this opportunity please contact Jack Tyrrell, Specialist Recruitment Consultant at MCS Group 016994371or send an up to date CV via the link provided.

If this position is not right for you, we may have others that are. Please visit www.mcsgroup.jobs to view a wide selection of our current jobs. All conversations will be treated in the strictest of confidence.