Head of Engineering

About the Role

You'll be our first Head of Engineering. That means you're not inheriting a team with established processes — you're building the engineering function from zero. Our stack is React, Next.js, Supabase (PostgreSQL), and Vercel. The platform is live, clients use it daily, and it needs someone who can take it from "it works" to "it scales."

This is a hands-on role. You'll write code, make architecture calls, hire developers, and ship features. If you want a role where you attend standups and manage Jira tickets all day, look elsewhere. If you want to build something real inside a regulated fintech where your decisions directly impact the product, keep reading.

What You'll Actually Do

• Own the full stack. No one else is going to make technical decisions for you.
• Build the engineering team from scratch — hiring, culture, standards, everything.
• Set up CI/CD, testing, and code review processes that don't currently exist.
• Redesign database architecture — multi-tenancy, RBAC, proper audit trails.
• Build FX pricing engine integrations with banking partners.
• Make the platform secure enough for financial services (encryption, SOC 2 readiness).
• Work directly with the COO on what gets built and when. No product managers in between.

Who We're Looking For

• You've built things before, not just managed people who build things.
• Deep hands-on experience with React/Next.js and PostgreSQL. You can debug a query and review a PR.
• You've worked in fintech, payments, or financial services and understand why compliance matters to architecture.
• You've set up engineering processes in a small team before — and you know the difference between useful process and bureaucratic waste.
• You make decisions with incomplete information and don't need a committee to approve your choices.
• You're comfortable being both the architect and the builder. There's no one to delegate to yet.

Bonus

• You've worked with Supabase or similar platforms.
• You understand FINTRAC, Bank of Canada, or FCA regulatory requirements.
• You've been a founding engineer or first engineering hire before and know what that really means.

Compensation

Competitive salary. We'll talk numbers when we talk.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a short note to careers@unicorncurrencies.com with the job title in the subject line.

Skip the cover letter template. Just tell us what you've actually built, fixed, or shipped — and why you want to do it here. We read every application personally and respond within 5 business days.

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