Lead Engineer, Full Stack Developer, Software Engineer

Brookline, United States | Posted on 10/28/2025

We’re looking for a Founding Lead Engineer
— a hands‑on builder who’s as excited about shaping early architecture and shipping features as they are about helping set the tone for FeMMA’s engineering culture. You’ll work closely with the founding team to turn insights from our early users into scalable systems and elegant, reliable mobile experiences. This is a chance to build something meaningful from the ground up — with space to make early technical decisions that support rapid iteration and long‑term growth.

You’ll be joining a small, mission‑driven team that cares about quality, community, and impact. FeMMA is led by Caitlin Hodge, our CEO
, who has partnered closely with Michael Horvath
— (co‑founder and former CEO of Strava)— our lead investor. Together, they bring deep experience launching successful, mission‑driven companies. At FeMMA, we’re not chasing vanity metrics or viral tricks — we’re building a purposeful product that empowers women to train, connect, and grow stronger together.

You’ll have the autonomy to make core technical decisions and the opportunity to help grow an early engineering team as we scale. At FeMMA, we’re building intentionally — not for hype, but for lasting impact.

Architect and build the product foundation – Design and implement backend and mobile systems that support both the current MVP and future releases.

Lead Technology Strategy – Define and execute the product tech vision, ensuring alignment with business goals.

Build & Scale the mobile app – Architect and develop a robust backend in Elixir (Phoenix framework) and React Native mobile applications.

Manage Scalable, Reliable Cloud Infrastructure – Deploy, monitor, and optimize infrastructure on AWS (EC2, Lambda, RDS, S3, etc.).

Agile Project Management – Oversee sprint planning and backlog using Jira, ensuring rapid iteration.

Grow the Team – Recruit, onboard, and lead additional engineers as we scale.

Security & Compliance – Ensure the system is secure, optimized, and compliant with best practices.

Collaborate cross‑functionally – Work closely with the founder, design and product to create an exceptional user experience for women training in martial arts.

Continuous Improvement – Stay updated with new technologies and drive innovation in product development.

Technical Expertise (5+ Years Work Experience)

Experience with
React Native (or similar cross‑platform frameworks) for mobile app development.

Hands‑on experience with AWS (EC2, Lambda, RDS, S3, Cloud Watch, etc.) and Dev Ops best practices.

Proficiency in PostgreSQL or similar relational databases, and performance tuning.

Strong understanding of API development (REST or Graph

QL) and third‑party integrations.

Understanding of microservices, caching, and performance optimization for scalability.

Interest or experience in consumer mobile products or social/community apps
.

Leadership & Mindset

Experience working in early‑stage startups or building a product from scratch.

Ability to make strategic tech decisions balancing speed, scalability, and budget.

Strong understanding of Agile & Lean methodologies, using Jira to track progress.

Entrepreneurial mindset with problem‑solving skills and a bias for action. Comfortable wearing multiple hats – from coding to hiring to strategizing tech growth.

Collaborative and motivated by FeMMA’s mission to empower women in martial arts (bonus if you’ve trained in martial arts or have competed yourself).

Compensation: Competitive salary and meaningful equity, in line with experience. FeMMA is early‑stage, and we tailor compensation to align with ownership, impact, and growth potential.