About ZBOS
ZBOS is building the operating system for modern businesses, bringing operations, payments and AI into one modular platform.
Think Square + Shopify + Toast, reimagined as a single AI-native platform that eliminates fragmented software and gives businesses one place to run everything.
We've already validated strong market demand with approximately $200 million in Expressions of Interest from established Australian hospitality businesses, built a fully interactive product prototype, and completed a comprehensive technical architecture for the platform.
Now we're assembling our founding engineering team to transform that vision into a world-class product capable of powering thousands of businesses across Australia and beyond.
The Opportunity
This isn't another software engineering job.
We're looking for an exceptional full-stack engineer who wants to build a company—not just another application.
You'll work directly alongside the founders and the founding engineering team to build the ZBOS platform from the ground up.
The architecture has already been designed. The product vision is clear. Now it's time to execute.
As one of our first engineering hires, you'll build features across the entire platform, influence technical decisions, and have a genuine impact on every part of the product.
If you enjoy solving difficult engineering problems, shipping products quickly and taking ownership, you'll fit right in.
Responsibilities
- Build and ship production-ready features across the frontend and backend.
- Develop scalable APIs and backend services.
- Build intuitive, high-performance user interfaces.
- Collaborate closely with the founders on product direction and technical decisions.
- Write clean, maintainable and well-tested code.
- Contribute to architecture discussions and engineering standards.
- Review code and collaborate with the wider engineering team.
- Help build software designed to scale with thousands of businesses.
Requirements
- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Strong experience with full-stack development.
- Excellent knowledge of React, Next.js and TypeScript.
- Strong backend experience using Node.js.
- Experience designing REST APIs.
- Experience with PostgreSQL or similar relational databases.
- Experience deploying cloud applications.
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment.
Preferred Experience
- Experience building SaaS or enterprise software.
- AWS or other cloud platforms.
- Docker and Kubernetes.
- Redis and Kafka.
- CI/CD pipelines.
- AI technologies including OpenAI or Anthropic APIs.
- Startup or scale-up experience.
- Experience at companies such as Atlassian, Canva, Block, Stripe, Airwallex, Xero, SafetyCulture, REA Group or similar.
Technology Stack
Our current technology stack includes:
- TypeScript
- React
- Next.js
- Node.js
- Fastify
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
- Kafka
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- AWS
- GitHub Actions
- OpenAI APIs
- Anthropic Claude APIs
Founding Equity & Compensation
Please read this section carefully before applying.
ZBOS is currently a pre-seed startup.
This is not a conventional salaried software engineering position.
We're looking for engineers who genuinely want to build a company from the ground up and understand the risks and rewards that come with joining at this stage.
Successful candidates will receive meaningful founding equity based on experience, expected contribution and long-term commitment.
At this stage, participation is equity-based. As ZBOS grows and subject to successful fundraising and the company's financial position, remuneration arrangements will be reviewed.
If you're primarily looking for an immediate salary or guaranteed cash compensation, this opportunity isn't the right fit.
We're looking for builders, people willing to take founder-level risk because they believe in building something extraordinary.
Why Join ZBOS?
- Become one of the first engineers in an ambitious Australian technology company.
- Work directly alongside experienced founders from day one.
- Build from an already architected platform rather than starting with a blank page.
- Influence technical decisions and product direction.
- Ship features that will directly impact customers.
- Receive meaningful founding equity with significant long-term upside.
- Help build software designed to redefine how businesses operate.
Commitment
We're looking for someone who wants to make a significant contribution during the company's earliest stage.
Ideally, you'll be available for full-time involvement, although we're open to discussing suitable arrangements with exceptional candidates.
Application Question(s):
- How many years of professional software engineering experience do you have?
- Which technologies and frameworks have you used to build production-ready software?
- Tell us about the most technically challenging product or feature you've built. What was your role?
- Have you built a SaaS product or worked in an early-stage startup? Tell us about your experience.
- This is an early-stage founding opportunity where initial participation is equity-based rather than salary-based. Are you genuinely comfortable with this arrangement? If yes, what motivates you to join a company at this stage?
- Why do you want to become a founding engineer rather than join an established technology company?
- If selected, what would you hope to accomplish during your first six months at ZBOS?
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Melbourne VIC 3000
