Jiga, a YC-backed startup (W21) building a B2B marketplace for industrial materials in Africa, is hiring full-stack engineers proficient in MongoDB, React, and Node.js. They're looking for individuals passionate about building a transformative product with significant real-world impact, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and eager to contribute to a rapidly growing company. Experience with Typescript and Next.js is a plus.
Sei, a Y Combinator-backed company building the fastest Layer 1 blockchain specifically designed for trading, is hiring a Full-Stack Engineer. This role will focus on building and maintaining core features of their trading platform, working primarily with TypeScript and React. The ideal candidate has experience with complex web applications, a strong understanding of data structures and algorithms, and a passion for the future of finance and decentralized technologies.
The Hacker News comments express skepticism and concern about the job posting. Several users question the extremely wide salary range ($140k-$420k), viewing it as a red flag and suggesting it's a ploy to attract a broader range of candidates while potentially lowballing them. Others criticize the emphasis on "GenAI" in the title, seeing it as hype-driven and possibly indicating a lack of focus. There's also discussion about the demanding requirements listed for a "full-stack" role, with some arguing that the expectations are unrealistic for a single engineer. Finally, some commenters express general wariness towards blockchain/crypto companies, referencing previous market downturns and questioning the long-term viability of Sei.
Summary of Comments ( 0 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43088567
HN commenters discuss Jiga's unusual hiring approach, which emphasizes learning MongoDB, React, and Node.js after being hired. Some express skepticism, questioning the practicality of training experienced engineers in specific technologies and the potential for attracting less qualified candidates. Others are more optimistic, viewing it as a refreshing alternative to the overemphasis on specific tech stacks in typical job postings, potentially opening opportunities for talented individuals with strong fundamentals but lacking specific framework experience. The discussion also touches on the potential for lower salaries due to the training aspect and the overall cost-effectiveness of this hiring strategy for Jiga. Several commenters share personal anecdotes of successfully transitioning to new technologies on the job, suggesting that Jiga's approach could be viable.
The Hacker News post discussing Jiga's hiring of Mongo/React/Node engineers generated a modest amount of discussion, with a focus on the compensation offered and the nature of the work.
One commenter questioned the salary range of $80k-$120k, considering it low for a YC-backed company, particularly for experienced engineers in a high-cost-of-living area. They speculated whether the company might be based outside a major tech hub, thus explaining the lower salary band. This spurred a discussion about salary expectations and the potential trade-offs between working for a well-funded startup versus a more established company.
Another user expressed concern about the advertised “impactful” work on “global issues” related to industrial supply chains. They voiced skepticism about the actual impact a single engineer could have in such a complex field, suggesting it might be overstated marketing language. They also questioned whether the work would genuinely involve tackling significant global challenges or primarily focus on internal tooling and optimization. This prompted a brief exchange with another commenter who argued that such work could indeed be impactful, even if indirectly, by improving efficiency and transparency within the industry.
A separate comment focused on the required experience level. The commenter observed that the listing seemed targeted towards less experienced engineers given the specified range. They wondered whether this indicated a preference for junior developers or simply reflected the budgetary constraints of an early-stage startup.
Finally, one comment simply mentioned having interviewed with the company previously. They did not provide further details about their experience, leaving it open to interpretation whether it was positive or negative.
While the number of comments is limited, they touch on important considerations for potential applicants, such as salary expectations, the true nature of the work, and the company's stage of development. The comments reflect a healthy skepticism and a desire for more clarity regarding the advertised opportunity.