Just Badge
Senior Full-Stack Developer (San Diego-based)
Just Badge, San Diego, California, United States, 92189
Senior Full-Stack Developer
Location:
Remote (MUST BE LOCATED IN San Diego, CA United States)
Type:
Full-Time (Upon Funding)
Reports to:
VP of Product / CTO
Just Badge Worldwide is building ELITE—the global skills verification platform that transforms how professionals prove capability through real‑time behavioral data, not resumes. We have proven the concept, validated our acquisition model, and are finishing the final 20% of ecosystem development. We are pre‑revenue, founder‑funded, and preparing for public launch. Join us to build the foundation, onboard our first subscribers, and position ourselves for scale.
The Role This is a high‑impact technical role for a highly‑experienced full‑stack developer who thrives on shipping fast, solving complex problems, and leveraging AI development tools to accelerate execution. You will build the core features of ELITE—a professional social network with behavioral skill tracking, community infrastructure, session booking marketplace, and gamification systems—while maintaining clean architecture and cost‑conscious technical decisions. The role requires both technical depth and startup pragmatism: knowing when to build from scratch, when to fork open‑source projects, and when to integrate third‑party solutions.
Core Technical Stack
Frontend:
React 18 with Vite or Next.js
Tailwind CSS and Headless UI components
State management with Zustand
React Router v6, React Hook Form with Zod validation
Mobile‑responsive and accessibility‑first design
Backend:
Node.js 20+ with Express.js and TypeScript
PostgreSQL 15+ with Prisma ORM
RESTful API design and implementation
Authentication via Clerk or Auth0
Payment processing with Stripe and Stripe Connect
File storage (AWS S3 or Cloudinary), email (SendGrid)
DevOps & Infrastructure:
CI/CD with GitHub Actions
Vercel (frontend), Railway/Render (backend)
Database hosting (Supabase or PlanetScale)
Error monitoring (Sentry), analytics (PostHog)
Advanced Capabilities:
Browser extension development (Manifest v3)
Desktop app development with Electron
SQLite for local data management
API integrations (Zoom, calendar systems)
Batch processing for LLM cost optimization
Critical Requirement: AI‑Assisted Development
Cursor, GitHub Copilot, V0, Lovable, or Replit experience
Ability to write effective prompts for AI code generation
Comfortable using AI copilots to accelerate development timelines
Skilled at reviewing and refining AI‑generated code
Experience with AI‑assisted test suite generation
Understands how good, scalable software is written and the balance between using AI and writing custom code
What Success Looks Like
Month 1‑3: Ship 3‑5 high‑priority features (social network core, authentication, profiles, activity feeds). Integrate with existing codebase and establish development workflows.
Month 4‑6: Complete session booking marketplace, payment processing, and email automation. Launch beta with core feature set ready for user testing.
Month 7‑9: Build gamification systems, behavioral tracking integrations, and AI‑powered skill categorization. Optimize performance, cost, and user experience based on beta feedback.
What You Bring
5+ years full‑stack development experience with modern JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks.
Strong React and Node.js proficiency—you've built production applications with these technologies.
Database design and management with SQL databases (PostgreSQL preferred) and ORMs like Prisma.
API development and integration experience—RESTful design, third‑party API consumption, and authentication systems.
Experience with payment processing (Stripe preferred) and marketplace or booking systems.
AI development tool fluency—you've used Cursor, Copilot, or similar tools to accelerate your development workflow.
Startup mentality—comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and making pragmatic technical decisions.
Cost‑conscious engineering—you know how to build scalable solutions within budget constraints.
Located in San Diego, CA, United States—to enable in‑person working sessions with the founders (No relocation provided).
Bonus Experience
Social network or community platform development
Browser extension or desktop app development (Electron)
Gamification mechanics and point systems
LLM/AI API integration with cost optimization strategies
Privacy‑first data architecture and local‑first applications
Experience forking and customizing open‑source projects
Mobile app development (React Native or similar)
Development Methodology
MoSCoW prioritization: Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have
Minimum Viable Feature (MVF) approach: Ship core functionality first, iterate based on feedback
AI‑assisted development: Use AI tools for scaffolding, testing, and documentation
Weekly progress reviews: Feature prioritization and risk mitigation planning
12‑20 week timeline to production beta: Fast‑paced execution with clear milestones
Mindset & Values
Ship fast, iterate faster: Prioritize delivering working features over perfect architecture, then refine based on real user feedback.
AI‑native developer: Embrace AI tools as productivity multipliers and use them effectively.
Problem solver: Find creative solutions to technical challenges, especially when balancing cost, performance, and speed.
Self‑directed: Take ownership of features end‑to‑end and work independently.
User‑focused: Build intuitive, performant experiences that users love.
Mission‑aligned: Believe in the vision of verified professional capability and understand how your code enables that future.
Compensation & Equity
Competitive base salary upon funding: $120K‑$160K (depending on experience and location)
Equity: 0.25%‑0.75% in stock options (4‑year vesting with 1‑year cliff)
Performance bonus: Tied to feature delivery milestones and platform launch success
Start Before Funding (Preferred Candidates)
Part‑time or full‑time on an equity‑only basis with vesting beginning after the trial period
Equity grant remains the same (0.25%‑0.75%)
Contractor to start and transition to full salary + benefits package upon funding close + signing bonus (backpay)
Early vesting credit for pre‑funding contributions
Timeline This role will be hired upon funding close, anticipated in the coming weeks. However, we are open to bringing on the right candidate earlier on an equity‑only basis to begin vesting immediately.
Why This Role Matters You're not just writing code—you're building the infrastructure that enables professionals to prove their capabilities and unlock opportunities based on verified skills, not resumes. Every feature you ship helps people connect, grow, and earn in ways that weren’t possible before. This is a founding engineering role where your technical decisions shape the platform's scalability, user experience, and long‑term success. If you thrive on fast execution, AI‑assisted development, and mission‑driven work, this is your opportunity to create something that matters.
Skills github,nodejs,react,third party applications,api,postgresql,typescript,full stack development
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Remote (MUST BE LOCATED IN San Diego, CA United States)
Type:
Full-Time (Upon Funding)
Reports to:
VP of Product / CTO
Just Badge Worldwide is building ELITE—the global skills verification platform that transforms how professionals prove capability through real‑time behavioral data, not resumes. We have proven the concept, validated our acquisition model, and are finishing the final 20% of ecosystem development. We are pre‑revenue, founder‑funded, and preparing for public launch. Join us to build the foundation, onboard our first subscribers, and position ourselves for scale.
The Role This is a high‑impact technical role for a highly‑experienced full‑stack developer who thrives on shipping fast, solving complex problems, and leveraging AI development tools to accelerate execution. You will build the core features of ELITE—a professional social network with behavioral skill tracking, community infrastructure, session booking marketplace, and gamification systems—while maintaining clean architecture and cost‑conscious technical decisions. The role requires both technical depth and startup pragmatism: knowing when to build from scratch, when to fork open‑source projects, and when to integrate third‑party solutions.
Core Technical Stack
Frontend:
React 18 with Vite or Next.js
Tailwind CSS and Headless UI components
State management with Zustand
React Router v6, React Hook Form with Zod validation
Mobile‑responsive and accessibility‑first design
Backend:
Node.js 20+ with Express.js and TypeScript
PostgreSQL 15+ with Prisma ORM
RESTful API design and implementation
Authentication via Clerk or Auth0
Payment processing with Stripe and Stripe Connect
File storage (AWS S3 or Cloudinary), email (SendGrid)
DevOps & Infrastructure:
CI/CD with GitHub Actions
Vercel (frontend), Railway/Render (backend)
Database hosting (Supabase or PlanetScale)
Error monitoring (Sentry), analytics (PostHog)
Advanced Capabilities:
Browser extension development (Manifest v3)
Desktop app development with Electron
SQLite for local data management
API integrations (Zoom, calendar systems)
Batch processing for LLM cost optimization
Critical Requirement: AI‑Assisted Development
Cursor, GitHub Copilot, V0, Lovable, or Replit experience
Ability to write effective prompts for AI code generation
Comfortable using AI copilots to accelerate development timelines
Skilled at reviewing and refining AI‑generated code
Experience with AI‑assisted test suite generation
Understands how good, scalable software is written and the balance between using AI and writing custom code
What Success Looks Like
Month 1‑3: Ship 3‑5 high‑priority features (social network core, authentication, profiles, activity feeds). Integrate with existing codebase and establish development workflows.
Month 4‑6: Complete session booking marketplace, payment processing, and email automation. Launch beta with core feature set ready for user testing.
Month 7‑9: Build gamification systems, behavioral tracking integrations, and AI‑powered skill categorization. Optimize performance, cost, and user experience based on beta feedback.
What You Bring
5+ years full‑stack development experience with modern JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks.
Strong React and Node.js proficiency—you've built production applications with these technologies.
Database design and management with SQL databases (PostgreSQL preferred) and ORMs like Prisma.
API development and integration experience—RESTful design, third‑party API consumption, and authentication systems.
Experience with payment processing (Stripe preferred) and marketplace or booking systems.
AI development tool fluency—you've used Cursor, Copilot, or similar tools to accelerate your development workflow.
Startup mentality—comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and making pragmatic technical decisions.
Cost‑conscious engineering—you know how to build scalable solutions within budget constraints.
Located in San Diego, CA, United States—to enable in‑person working sessions with the founders (No relocation provided).
Bonus Experience
Social network or community platform development
Browser extension or desktop app development (Electron)
Gamification mechanics and point systems
LLM/AI API integration with cost optimization strategies
Privacy‑first data architecture and local‑first applications
Experience forking and customizing open‑source projects
Mobile app development (React Native or similar)
Development Methodology
MoSCoW prioritization: Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have
Minimum Viable Feature (MVF) approach: Ship core functionality first, iterate based on feedback
AI‑assisted development: Use AI tools for scaffolding, testing, and documentation
Weekly progress reviews: Feature prioritization and risk mitigation planning
12‑20 week timeline to production beta: Fast‑paced execution with clear milestones
Mindset & Values
Ship fast, iterate faster: Prioritize delivering working features over perfect architecture, then refine based on real user feedback.
AI‑native developer: Embrace AI tools as productivity multipliers and use them effectively.
Problem solver: Find creative solutions to technical challenges, especially when balancing cost, performance, and speed.
Self‑directed: Take ownership of features end‑to‑end and work independently.
User‑focused: Build intuitive, performant experiences that users love.
Mission‑aligned: Believe in the vision of verified professional capability and understand how your code enables that future.
Compensation & Equity
Competitive base salary upon funding: $120K‑$160K (depending on experience and location)
Equity: 0.25%‑0.75% in stock options (4‑year vesting with 1‑year cliff)
Performance bonus: Tied to feature delivery milestones and platform launch success
Start Before Funding (Preferred Candidates)
Part‑time or full‑time on an equity‑only basis with vesting beginning after the trial period
Equity grant remains the same (0.25%‑0.75%)
Contractor to start and transition to full salary + benefits package upon funding close + signing bonus (backpay)
Early vesting credit for pre‑funding contributions
Timeline This role will be hired upon funding close, anticipated in the coming weeks. However, we are open to bringing on the right candidate earlier on an equity‑only basis to begin vesting immediately.
Why This Role Matters You're not just writing code—you're building the infrastructure that enables professionals to prove their capabilities and unlock opportunities based on verified skills, not resumes. Every feature you ship helps people connect, grow, and earn in ways that weren’t possible before. This is a founding engineering role where your technical decisions shape the platform's scalability, user experience, and long‑term success. If you thrive on fast execution, AI‑assisted development, and mission‑driven work, this is your opportunity to create something that matters.
Skills github,nodejs,react,third party applications,api,postgresql,typescript,full stack development
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