AI Founding Engineer

AI Founding EngineerCompany Overview

Sidecar (https://usesidecar.com) is an ambitious early-stage startup on a mission to revolutionize logistics and supply chain operations through advanced artificial intelligence. We are building a 24x7 Virtual AI Teammate for Freight Forwarders, enabling legacy freight forwarding companies to unlock trapped revenue and automate manual communications. With a rapidly growing client base and innovative founding team from IIT Kharagpur and IIT Delhi, Sidecar offers a dynamic, impact-driven culture focused on growth, collaboration, and cutting-edge problem-solving.

Job Summary

As an AI Founding Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in architecting and implementing AI-driven automation systems that transform freight forwarding and logistics operations. You will collaborate directly with the founding team to build scalable solutions that extract value from unstructured communications, automate manual workflows, and bring API-level efficiency to legacy systems. This is a unique opportunity to shape the technical foundation and culture of a high-potential startup, with significant ownership and the chance to grow into a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Build robust, scalable AI-driven automation systems for logistics and supply chain processes.
• Develop and deploy solutions for complex web interactions and data retrieval using advanced AI techniques.
• Implement intelligent, repeatable processes based on natural language inputs, minimizing explicit hardcoding.
• Ensure solutions are adaptable and scalable across diverse client scenarios.
• Clearly document methodologies and code, promoting maintainability and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with founders and product teams to rapidly prototype, test, and iterate on new features.

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in AI-driven automation and web interaction technologies.
• Demonstrable experience independently creating effective automation solutions.
• Advanced skills in scripting languages: Python and JavaScript.
• Practical experience with JavaScript frameworks and TypeScript, especially for React.
• Experience with API integration and building scalable back-end solutions.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms: AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Google Cloud Platform.
• Comfortable with virtual development environments and tools (pip, uv, etc.).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, creativity, and autonomy in technical execution.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (preferred).

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with OpenAI API or similar AI/ML platforms.
• Startup experience or previous roles in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• High initiative and a proactive, ownership-driven mindset.
• Willingness and ability to rapidly learn and adapt to new technologies and methodologies.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in full-stack development, AI-driven automation, or related fields.
• Proven track record in building and deploying production-grade AI solutions.
• Experience with logistics, supply chain, or similar domains is a plus but not required.

Environment

• Hybrid work model: Primarily remote, with occasional onsite collaboration in Bangalore.
• Fast-paced startup environment with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility.
• Collaborative and innovative culture, focused on rapid iteration and delivery.

Salary

• Attractive salary equity options based on performance and contribution

GrowthOpportunities

• Opportunity to join the founding team and shape the company's technical direction.
• Rapid professional growth with the potential to move into technical leadership or CTO-track roles.
• Direct impact on the product, customers, and industry.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including equity.
• Flexible remote-first work culture.
• Direct mentorship from experienced founders with backgrounds in AI and logistics.
• Collaborative, high-agency environment fostering innovation and ownership.