Full-Stack Software Engineer

Job description

FULL-STACK SOFTWARE ENGINEER Are you passionate about building innovative web applications and using AI to address real-world learning challenges? Do you want to help shape the future of education? PrairieLearn is an early-stage EdTech startup. We are hiring talented Full-Stack Software Engineers. Location: Fully remote (anywhere in the US) Position Type: Full-time Visa Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas at this time. ABOUT US PrairieLearn is an open-source assessment platform, originally developed at the University of Illinois and now used at top universities across the US, including Berkeley, Princeton, Michigan, and UIUC. We empower mastery-based learning and large-scale assessment with an emphasis on reliability and innovation. We are like a "power-user" version of Gradescope/Canvas/Moodle. We’re also developing AI tooling in the product, including LLM agents to help instructors create content, and vision-language models to help grade student work. This is practical, user-facing AI work with real-world impact — not a research sandbox. ABOUT THE ROLE We are a small, profitable, open-source, bootstrapped company growing quickly. Our users love us and we have very high retention and rapid spread through word of mouth. As an early-stage hire, you’ll work across the stack and enjoy meaningful ownership from day one. You’ll help deliver practical, user-facing features with clear guardrails and authentic educational impact. Responsibilities - Build and maintain systems across the stack: Node.js/TypeScript backend, Postgres, and React. We use tRPC, TanStack, and AWS. - Design features end-to-end, from conception to rollout, working in a small team to architect and iterate on these features - Collaborate directly with educators and TAs to translate academic needs into high-quality features You Might Be a Fit If You… - Have experience with full-stack web development - Enjoy engaging directly with users—especially instructors and TAs - Love owning projects from initial idea through to production - Love using the cutting edge of AI development tools (Claude, Codex) - Even if you don’t meet every requirement: If you’re a quick learner and passionate about education and engineering, we encourage you to apply! OUR TECH STACK - Node.js / TypeScript backend - Postgres, Redis, AWS, Docker - React / tRPC / TanStack - Open source: PrairieLearn on GitHub https://github.com/PrairieLearn/PrairieLearn WHY JOIN PRAIRIELEARN? - Bootstrapped & Profitable: We’re growing quickly and sustainably - Open Source: Collaborate with a global community of developers and educators - Stock Options: As an early hire, you’ll receive stock options with your offer - Remote Culture: Work from anywhere in the US with a flexible schedule - Unlimited PTO & Flexible Hours: Take time when you need it and work when you perform best - Career Growth: Early-stage team members have outsized opportunities for impact and learning DETAILS Location: Remote (US only) Salary: $100k-$180k depending on experience Benefits: Stock options (0.5% - 1.5%), unlimited PTO, flexible hours Type: Full-time Visa sponsorship: Not available PrairieLearn is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Thank you for applying to PrairieLearn!