Tabular, a YC S24 startup, is seeking a founding engineer to help build a collaborative spreadsheet tool designed for complex data analysis. They're looking for someone passionate about developer tools and spreadsheets with a strong understanding of front-end technologies like React, Typescript, and potentially Rust/WebAssembly. The ideal candidate enjoys fast-paced environments and collaborating closely within a small team to shape the product's direction. Experience with data visualization, collaborative editing, or spreadsheet software is a plus.
Tabular, a promising startup currently participating in the Summer 2024 batch of Y Combinator, is actively seeking a Founding Engineer to join their burgeoning team. This individual will play a pivotal role in the company's formative stages, contributing significantly to the architecture, design, and implementation of their core technology. Tabular is developing a novel approach to data analysis and manipulation, focusing on a user-friendly and intuitive interface that empowers individuals and organizations to glean actionable insights from their data, irrespective of their technical expertise. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the trajectory of a nascent technology with the potential for widespread impact. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in software engineering principles, demonstrating proficiency in areas such as backend development, database management, and distributed systems. Furthermore, a passion for crafting elegant and efficient solutions to complex data challenges is highly desirable. While specific technologies are not explicitly mentioned, the role necessitates a deep understanding of fundamental computer science concepts and the ability to rapidly adapt to evolving technological landscapes. Joining Tabular at this juncture presents a compelling prospect for ambitious engineers seeking to make a substantial contribution to a groundbreaking venture backed by the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program. This role offers not only the chance to build innovative software but also to be an integral part of a dynamic and rapidly growing team, influencing the very fabric of the company's culture and future direction. The successful candidate will enjoy a high degree of ownership and responsibility, working closely with the founding team to bring Tabular's vision to fruition.
Summary of Comments ( 0 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43912944
The Hacker News comments on the Tabular (YC S24) job posting are largely focused on the requested tech stack (TypeScript, React, and Node.js) and its perceived suitability for a data-intensive application. Several commenters question the choice of JavaScript for performance-critical backend tasks, expressing concern about potential bottlenecks and advocating for languages like Rust, Go, or Python with optimized data science libraries. Others defend the choice, citing the large existing ecosystem and ease of rapid prototyping. A few commenters also note the broadness of the "founding engineer" role and discuss the potential challenges and rewards of joining an early-stage startup. Several commenters express interest in the remote work aspect and the focus on tabular data interfaces. Finally, there's some skepticism about the actual innovation being pursued, with one commenter questioning whether the problem being addressed is truly significant.
The Hacker News post titled "Tabular (YC S24) Is Hiring" linking to a Tabular job posting for a Founding Engineer generated several comments, primarily focusing on the equity compensation offered and the company's approach to remote work.
Several commenters questioned the equity range of 0.5% - 1.5%, finding it low for a founding engineer role, especially considering the early stage of the company. One commenter suggested this range is more typical for very early hires after founders, not for a founding engineer. They also questioned the valuation the equity is based on, emphasizing that 0.5% of a $10M valuation is quite different from 0.5% of a $1M valuation. This commenter argued that, unless the company had already raised substantial funding at a high valuation, the equity offered was not competitive.
Other commenters echoed this sentiment, with one stating outright that the equity offer was "lowball" and that, while Tabular is in YC, that alone does not justify subpar compensation. This commenter felt the equity should be closer to 5-10% for such an early stage role.
Expanding on the equity discussion, another commenter noted the lack of information about salary. They pointed out that without knowing the salary offered alongside the equity, it's difficult to assess the overall compensation package. They speculated that the salary might be below market rate, further compounding the issue of low equity.
The discussion also touched upon the company's remote work policy. The job posting mentions being "remote-friendly" but expecting regular travel to San Francisco. A commenter expressed skepticism towards this approach, arguing that true remote work should not involve regular mandatory travel, making it more of a hybrid model. They viewed this requirement as potentially inconvenient and costly for candidates not located near San Francisco.
Finally, one commenter simply mentioned they had applied for the position, providing no further context or opinion.
Overall, the comments on Hacker News largely expressed concerns regarding the perceived low equity offer for a founding engineer role and the ambiguity surrounding the company's "remote-friendly" policy, suggesting it might not be a fully remote position as some might interpret. The lack of salary information in the job posting was also highlighted as a point of concern, making it difficult for potential candidates to evaluate the overall compensation package.