Software Engineer

About us

Aethel Defense is an early-stage AI security startup. We build the tools companies rely on to keep their AI products safe, secure, and trustworthy. We're small, moving fast toward our first customers, and looking for an engineer who wants real ownership from day one. New grad, self-taught, or ten years in, we don't care about the badge. We care about what you can build and whether you can prove it.

The role

As a Software Engineer, you'll work across the whole stack: a TypeScript and Node.js backend, a PostgreSQL data layer, a modern cloud deployment, and the React web app our customers use. You won't be handed narrow tickets. You'll own features end to end, from database to UI, and your code will reach production fast. This is a high-trust, remote-first role. You're comfortable making decisions, writing your own tests, and caring about quality and security, because that's the business, we're in.

What you'll do

• Build and ship full-stack features in TypeScript across our API, database, and web app
• Design and evolve PostgreSQL schemas and the data layer behind the product
• Build clean, fast, usable interfaces in React
• Deploy to a modern cloud stack and keep CI/CD healthy
• Write the automated tests that let us move fast without breaking what matters
• Help shape the product and the engineering culture as one of the first hires

What we're looking for

• Proof you can build. A portfolio, a GitHub, shipped side projects, open-source work, a CTF record, something you've put in front of real users. Evidence over credentials. No degree or years-of-experience requirement
• Real fluency in TypeScript / JavaScript and Node.js, and strong engineering fundamentals
• Backend comfort: REST APIs, relational databases (PostgreSQL), SQL, data modeling
• Front-end skill with React (ideally Next.js)
• A security mindset: you think about what can go wrong, and you test for it
• Self-direction. You do your best work with ownership, not a backlog someone else grooms for you

Nice to have

• Interest or experience in AI / LLM applications
• Background in cybersecurity or application security
• Experience with cloud platforms, serverless, or CI/CD pipelines
• You've shipped something end to end that you can prove

Compensation & logistics

• $80,000 to $120,000 base depending on skill, plus meaningful early-stage equity
• Fully remote, full-time
• Direct work with the team, genuine ownership, and a front-row seat as we grow

Background Check

• All selected candidates go through rigorous background screening prior to employment due to sensitivity of work.