As a Software Architect for Vertical Platform Development in the Ad-Tech & Immersive Media industry at an early-stage product-first startup, your role will involve owning and leading the technical development of a vertical software platform. You will be responsible for defining the architecture, guiding implementation, and ensuring that the platform is scalable, performant, and future-ready.

Key Responsibilities:
- **Vertical Architecture Ownership:**
- Own the end-to-end architecture of the vertical software platform.
- Define and evolve core system components, service boundaries, data models, and data flows.
- Ensure architecture supports low-latency, high-throughput, and multi-tenant workloads.

- **Technical Leadership & Delivery:**
- Lead and mentor engineers working on the vertical.
- Translate product requirements into robust technical designs.
- Balance speed and correctness in an early-stage environment.

- **Ad-Tech & Domain-Centric Design:**
- Design systems aligned with programmatic advertising requirements.
- Ensure architecture supports integration with DSPs, SSPs, exchanges, and analytics systems.

- **AI-Native & Automation-First Systems:**
- Architect platforms where AI is a first-class component.
- Integrate AI systems responsibly with clear observability and controls.

- **Media, Streaming & Interactive Systems:**
- Address constraints related to latency, synchronization, and real-time interaction.

- **Infrastructure & Deployment Strategy:**
- Define infrastructure and deployment patterns.
- Make pragmatic build-vs-buy decisions in a bootstrapped context.

- **Cross-Functional Collaboration:**
- Work closely with founders, product leadership, design and UX teams, and business stakeholders.

Required Skills & Experience:
- **Core Technical Skills:**
- Proven experience as a Software Architect, Principal Engineer, or Senior Technical Lead.
- Strong background in distributed systems and backend architecture.

- **Technology Stack Familiarity:**
- Strong experience with modern backend stacks and familiarity with frontend integration patterns.

- **Ad-Tech / Media-Tech Domain Knowledge:**
- Experience or robust working knowledge of programmatic advertising systems and media delivery.

- **AI & Automation:**
- Experience integrating AI/ML components into production systems and ability to design AI systems as part of core architecture.

- **Leadership & Execution:**
- Experience leading engineering teams and ability to operate in ambiguous, early-stage environments.

In this role, you will be a systems thinker who enjoys owning a vertical end-to-end, setting technical direction while remaining hands-on, and demonstrating comfort with bootstrapping, constraints, and rapid iteration. This impactful role allows you to define the technical DNA of a vertical product, influence how engineering scales alongside the business, and work at the convergence of Ad-Tech, AI, streaming, and interactive media. Additionally, this role has the potential to evolve into Chief Architect, Head of Engineering, or VP Engineering as the company grows. As a Software Architect for Vertical Platform Development in the Ad-Tech & Immersive Media industry at an early-stage product-first startup, your role will involve owning and leading the technical development of a vertical software platform. You will be responsible for defining the architecture, guiding implementation, and ensuring that the platform is scalable, performant, and future-ready.

Key Responsibilities:
- **Vertical Architecture Ownership:**
- Own the end-to-end architecture of the vertical software platform.
- Define and evolve core system components, service boundaries, data models, and data flows.
- Ensure architecture supports low-latency, high-throughput, and multi-tenant workloads.

- **Technical Leadership & Delivery:**
- Lead and mentor engineers working on the vertical.
- Translate product requirements into robust technical designs.
- Balance speed and correctness in an early-stage environment.

- **Ad-Tech & Domain-Centric Design:**
- Design systems aligned with programmatic advertising requirements.
- Ensure architecture supports integration with DSPs, SSPs, exchanges, and analytics systems.

- **AI-Native & Automation-First Systems:**
- Architect platforms where AI is a first-class component.
- Integrate AI systems responsibly with clear observability and controls.

- **Media, Streaming & Interactive Systems:**
- Address constraints related to latency, synchronization, and real-time interaction.

- **Infrastructure & Deployment Strategy:**
- Define infrastructure and deployment patterns.
- Make pragmatic build-vs-buy decisions in a bootstrapped context.

- **Cross-Functional Collaboration:**
- Work closely with founders, product leadership, design and UX teams, and business stakeholders.

Required Skills & Experience:
- **Core Technical Skills:**
- Proven experience as a Software