Founding Engineering Lead

About us

Emagineer is building a platform that lets anyone design anything out of LEGO, instantly. Using AI, users can turn ideas, images, or real-world objects into buildable LEGO creations, complete with parts and instructions, in seconds.

Our vision is to blur the line between physical LEGO play and digital gaming, creating a new category where what you build in the real world can live, evolve, and be experienced digitally.

The product is already built in Unity and live in the App Store, with AI-driven LEGO design capability in development and a creator monetisation model already live through referrals and licences.

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for a hands-on backend engineering leader who wants to solve hard, novel problems and help shape a product with global potential.

This is not a role for someone who wants to sit above the work. You’ll be deep in the codebase, working across Ruby on Rails, AWS, databases and AI integrations to help us scale a product that takes the near-infinite possibilities of LEGO and turns them into structured, buildable instructions.

You’ll work closely with the founders, Stacia and Ryan, our experienced frontend engineer, to understand what has already been built, improve the architecture, and help define the technical direction as we grow.

You have

• Strong experience with Ruby on Rails and building scalable backend systems
• Experience working with AWS or similar cloud infrastructure
• Solid understanding of database design, architecture and management
• Experience working with or integrating AI tools such as OpenAI, Gemini or similar
• A hands-on engineering mindset across the full development lifecycle
• Experience solving complex, ambiguous technical problems
• Strong understanding of how backend systems integrate with frontend applications
• Experience in startups, small teams or high-ownership environments
• Strong documentation habits, with the ability to build systems others can understand and scale
• Clear communication skills and comfort working in a collaborative, cross-functional team
• A self-starter mindset, with the ability to identify problems and act without waiting for direction
• Unity experience is a bonus, but not required

You will

• Own and develop backend systems using Ruby on Rails, AWS and Google ecosystem tools
• Work hands-on to solve complex technical challenges, especially translating infinite LEGO build possibilities into structured, buildable sets and instructions
• Build and evolve AI capabilities, including Gemini for visual recognition and OpenAI integrations
• Contribute to proprietary AI systems
• Design and manage large-scale databases covering LEGO pieces, sets and build logic
• Improve how data flows across the product and integrates with frontend systems
• Enhance AI pipelines to better interpret inputs and generate higher-quality outputs
• Build backend systems that process complex combinations efficiently and at scale
• Document what is implemented so future engineers can build on it properly
• Collaborate closely with the team through regular check-ins and fast feedback loops
• Bring ideas, solutions and improvements, not just execute assigned tasks

What success looks like

In the first month, you will focus on understanding the product, the existing codebase, and how the current architecture fits together. You’ll spend time getting familiar with the backend, AI workflows, databases, Unity app integration, and the broader product vision.

You’ll build strong working relationships with the founders, Stacia, Ryan, and the wider team, while identifying the strengths, limitations, and highest-priority opportunities within the current system. By the end of the first month, you should have a clear view of where you can make the biggest technical impact.

In the next few months, you will become the go-to person for how the core system works and start delivering meaningful improvements against the roadmap. You’ll help prioritise key technical challenges, improve how LEGO pieces, sets, and build logic are modelled, and refine AI workflows to generate better, faster, and more reliable outputs.

You’ll also strengthen documentation and engineering standards so future engineers can build on your work. As you ramp up, you’ll be expected to bring ideas and solutions proactively, helping push the product towards its next major milestone.

The team

We’re a lean, collaborative team made up of Keira and Bee, co-founders; Stacia, who works across marketing, strategy and operations; and Ryan, our experienced frontend engineer. The team also works with trusted contractors where needed, including UX/UI and design support.

This role will collaborate closely with Ryan and Stacia, while working directly with the founders on priorities, product direction and technical decisions. There is no heavy hierarchy here. Ideas come from everywhere, and the best thinking wins.

The benefits

• Real impact: You won’t be optimising around the edges. You’ll be shaping core parts of the product and technology.
• Competitive salary + equity: Market-competitive salary with equity so you share in the upside of what you help build.
• Remote-first: Work from anywhere in Australia, with flexibility to come together when it adds value.
• Early team, real ownership: Join as one of the first key hires and influence how the product, company and team evolve.
• High-trust, no-ego culture: Strong opinions are welcome, but team-first always wins.
• Collaborative environment: Work in a tight, cross-functional team where ideas are not limited by job title.
• Build your own path: As Emagineer scales, so will your role, with room to grow into leadership or specialise deeply.

We believe that diversity is critical to our success. We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status.