Founding Product Engineer / Systems Architect

Sentinel Defense Technologies | Remote (Global) | Equity → Pre-Seed Closing We build real-time civilian threat intelligence for conflict zones — and we just landed our first operational pilot. Multi-model AI pipeline (Gemini 3 Pro / Flash) ingests OSINT from verified sources, runs it through a gated verification system, and pushes geolocated alerts to offline-first mobile clients. Think of it as a personal intelligence analyst for non-combatants — on a phone that works on 2G. This is not a pitch deck. We have a working system: Django backend is live, Flutter apps are approved on both App Store and Play Store, multi-gate AI pipeline is processing real OSINT, admin console has human-in-the-loop verification for high-severity alerts. Since our last HN post: 93 candidates vetted across two months, 1 Senior AI/Backend Engineer hired (now owns the verification pipeline), and we've begun an operational pilot with Winrock International for counter-trafficking intelligence in Southeast Asia. Pre-seed is imminent with multiple NGO grant applications under review (WFP, IRC Airbel, DRK Foundation). *We need one person*: Founding Product Engineer / Systems Architect You will own the Django backend, MongoDB schemas, and the Flutter UI that connects them. Our AI pipeline lead handles the Gemini orchestration — your job is to own the data layer, build the API surface, and wire it directly into the offline-first client. This is not drawing backend diagrams. You must be an end-to-end builder who cares about how a civilian interacts with the system on the ground in a crisis. A bug in this system isn't a 500 error — it's a missed warning in a conflict zone. *Must have*: Python/Django, MongoDB, Flutter (or high competence to pick it up fast), and system design thinking. Strong plus: DevOps (Docker, AWS), LLM integration, OSINT, geospatial. We also welcome strong full-stack implementation engineers who ship fast and want founding-team equity. Same stack. *Compensation (No BS)*: - Now: Sweat equity (12-18% SA / 5-10% FSD, 4yr vest, 1yr cliff). This is founding-team ownership. - Pre-Seed (closing): $3,000/month + equity. - Seed (6-12 months): 75% market salary + equity. Increases from there. If you need full salary today, this is not for you. If you want to build something where the stakes are real and you're willing to bet on yourself to get there — we should talk. *Stack*: Python 3.9+, Django 4.1.13, MongoDB, Flutter, Antigravity/Cursor IDE, Docker, AWS. *Apply*: Email: PeterJFrancoIII@gmail.com with subject line `[SENTINEL-BUILDER] - HackerNews Application`. To prove you read this, include the word "Atlas" in your first sentence. Include your Resume or GitHub + what you'd build in your first week. (Emails without the exact subject line are auto-archived.) https://www.sentineldefensetechnologies.co.za