Founding CTO / Hands-on Full-Stack Tech Lead (Python, React, AI)

About SAWRIX

SAWRIX, Inc. is a US-based automotive Vertical AI startup (Delaware C-Corp) building an AI-powered Diagnostic System of Record for professional automotive technicians and repair shops.

Our platform goes beyond a conventional LLM chatbot. It combines automotive-specific diagnostic logic, structured case management, evidence tracking, guided troubleshooting, persistent vehicle history, and AI-powered voice and image processing.

We already have an existing product and codebase. Our immediate priority is to complete technical validation, improve reliability, and launch controlled real-world pilots.

We are looking for a Founding CTO / Hands-on Technical Lead who can take ownership of the existing technology, write code, lead engineering execution, and help build a scalable product.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position, not an advisory-only role.

Required Technical Skills

Strong Python development experience, particularly FastAPI.

Hands-on TypeScript, JavaScript, and React experience.

Full-stack SaaS architecture, REST APIs, WebSockets, and asynchronous programming.

PostgreSQL, database design, data integrity, and persistent application state.

LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar), AI agents, tool calling, and structured outputs.

Git/GitHub, automated testing, CI/CD, and code reviews.

Docker, cloud infrastructure, deployment, monitoring, and application security.

Experience reviewing, debugging, and improving AI-generated code.

Proven experience delivering real software products and making architectural decisions.

Strong advantages:

LiveKit, WebRTC, or real-time voice AI.

Speech-to-Text and Text-to-Speech integrations.

AI orchestration, multi-provider architectures, and API cost optimization.

OCR, computer vision, and image-processing systems.

Experience leading small engineering teams in early-stage startups.

Responsibilities

Review and understand the existing SAWRIX codebase.

Identify and resolve critical technical blockers preventing pilot launch.

Take ownership of backend, frontend, AI integrations, and infrastructure.

Personally develop and debug critical components.

Establish stable development environments, automated testing, and reliable release processes.

Lead and collaborate with a Senior Full-Stack AI Engineer.

Improve code quality, reliability, security, and maintainability.

Help design the technical architecture for future commercial scaling.

Work directly with the Founder on priorities and product development.

We value pragmatic engineering. We are open to simplifying or replacing existing technical solutions when there is a clear benefit, provided the core diagnostic requirements are preserved.

Collaboration & Compensation

Remote — Ukraine or Europe.

Initially part-time, approximately 15–20 hours per week.

Equity-first collaboration during the initial stage, with individually negotiated terms and vesting.

Planned transition to full-time paid collaboration with equity participation after sufficient funding and budget approval.

Future cash compensation is negotiated individually based on experience and responsibilities.

Direct involvement in technical strategy and key product decisions.

The initial phase is equity-based and does not include a guaranteed cash salary. All collaboration terms will be agreed in writing before work begins.

Who We're Looking For

We are particularly interested in engineers who have already built real SaaS or AI products and can take responsibility for complex technical systems.

You should be comfortable both making architectural decisions and implementing them yourself.

Strong ownership, independent problem-solving, practical engineering judgment, and the ability to work with an existing AI-assisted codebase are essential.

Professional English communication skills are required. Ukrainian or Russian language skills are highly desirable.

How to Apply

Please apply in English and include:

Your LinkedIn, GitHub, or portfolio.

Examples of production SaaS or AI products you helped build.

Your specific experience with Python/FastAPI and React/TypeScript.

Experience with LLM agents, real-time voice AI, LiveKit/WebRTC, or similar technologies.

Your technical leadership experience and current hands-on coding involvement.

Your weekly availability and potential full-time availability.

Whether you are open to an equity-first founding-team role.

We are looking for someone who wants to take real technical ownership and help bring an existing automotive AI product to market.

SAWRIX, Inc. — St. Louis, Missouri, USA