About Validate
Validate is not another dating app. We're building a movement.

We believe dating apps broke dating. They turned people into products, reduced connection to an algorithm, and made us all feel disposable. Swipe culture isn't working. Endless chats that go nowhere aren't working. Software that replaces real connection isn't working.

So we're doing something different. Validate is a community-first platform where people meet in real life, not just match online. We host real events. Speed dating nights. Social mixers. Workshops on communication and connection. We bring back the feeling of meeting someone organically, with the convenience of technology that supports human connection instead of replacing it.

We launched October 1, 2025, right here in NYC, because this city deserves better than what dating apps have become. We're starting local, building deep community in neighborhoods across the city, and creating a model that can scale to other cities once we prove it works here.

My team and I built this platform from the ground up. The app is live, people are using it, and we're growing with intention. We're focused on getting it right in NYC before expanding, because steady growth beats growth that burns out.

Right now, we're at that early stage where what you ship shapes what Validate becomes. The product, the reliability, the pace, and the standards. This is ground floor. This is your chance to build something that matters in people's lives.

Role You will ship product across the stack. You will build features, fix bugs, and improve stability. You will work in React + TypeScript on the frontend and Go on the backend. This is a senior role. We need someone who owns outcomes without hand-holding.

What you will own (full stack)

Build and ship core product flows end to end (UI → API → data).
Frontend (React + TypeScript):
Build and ship core UI flows.
Integrate APIs and handle loading, empty, and error states.
Fix UI bugs and improve usability.
Keep components clean and easy to maintain.

Backend (Go):
Build and maintain API endpoints.
Implement validation and clear error handling.
Support auth/session flows and permissions.
Work with data models and migrations when needed.

Reliability and quality:
Debug production issues using logs and repro steps.
Add logging and basic metrics for real-user issues.
Write tests where they reduce risk.
Set and maintain a simple release gate: smoke checks before merge and release.
Write short docs for setup, releases, and common incidents.

Cross-functional responsibilities (as needed)

Coordinate with product and engineering to unblock work.
Review API contracts, request changes, and ship client + server updates cleanly.
Communicate clearly in writing: status, decisions, blockers.

Required experience

4+ years building production software.
Strong React + TypeScript experience in production.
Strong backend experience (Go preferred; solid backend skills required).
Shipped end-to-end work (UI → API → data model).
Strong debugging ability (logs, traces, repro steps).
Clear written communication and clean code habits.

Bonus (nice to have)

Go + Postgres experience.
Experience with CI (GitHub Actions).
Experience with analytics and logging tools.
Experience in early-stage products where speed and stability both matter.
Experience designing API contracts with backend teams.

Working style

You ship in small increments.
You write down decisions and keep docs current.
You take ownership of reliability and user impact.
You prefer facts over guesses: logs, traces, repro steps.
You raise risks early and propose solutions.

Success metrics (Phase 2)

You ship meaningful changes each week (features + bug fixes).
You unblock frontend/backend dependencies without delays.
You reduce repeat issues by adding simple guardrails (logging, validation, tests).
PRs stay small, clear, and easy to review.

Compensation
This role operates on a phased compensation structure tied to company milestones. Phase 1 (current) is equity-first, where you receive 2% founder equity with standard 4-year vesting and 1-year cliff. Phase 2 begins after funding milestones, transitioning to monthly stipends ranging from $2,000 to $3,500. Phase 3 activates during our growth stage, moving to full-time salaries ranging from $90,000 to $115,000 annually. Your specific compensation within each phase is determined by the amount of funding Validate secures.