Privacy-focused AI Project | Founding Engineer
Remote - Europe (UTC-1 to UTC+3) | Full-time
Base salary + Up to 4% equity
We are building a truly private, open-source LLM gateway to address privacy problems around using LLMs. When we interact with AI-based services, we face the fundamental tension between utility and privacy. Current solutions to this problem are inadequate, so we are ready to build what we couldn't find.
About the Company
We are a well-funded, bootstrapped venture by the founders of IVPN - a VPN service highly regarded by privacy advocates and analysts, in operation since 2009.
About the Role
We are looking for a Founding Engineer (based in Europe) to architect and build an MVP from the ground up.
Requirements
This is a role for a senior builder with:
- Strong security/infosec background, track record in privacy-first solutions
- At least 8 years of professional experience
- Deep expertise across the stack (e.g., Go/Rust for backend, React/Vue for frontend)
- Infrastructure automation mindset
What You Can Expect
- Founder-funded, sovereign startup approach = no VC involvement and exit pressure
- Small, dedicated, 100% remote team that prefers pragmatism and maximum autonomy.
- Complete technical ownership, responsible for building a system designed for high availability and verifiable privacy that will reach 1M+ users.
- Sole focus on engineering - zero distractions. Founders own strategy, functional requirements, design, communications, legal and all other business related decision and execution.
- Strong base salary and a significant, foundational equity stake (up to 4%).
How to Apply
If you're a self-directed, experienced engineer who wants to build the foundational infrastructure for private, trustworthy AI access, email me at viktor at ivpn.net for a one-page project brief.