Junior Full Stack Engineer

About CtrLoop and Role Overview

CtrLoop offers a unique AI-native engineering environment designed to empower early-career engineers. This opening is for a Junior Full Stack Engineer based onsite in Forward, PA. The role is aimed at new graduates or those with up to 2 years of experience and focuses on full stack development across Python/Django backend, TypeScript web client, and React Native mobile apps. The company uses AI tools like Claude to enhance coding and development processes, with an emphasis on ownership and growth.

How We Work

• A rigid 10-stage engineering pipeline replaces traditional sprints or hand-offs, ensuring clear responsibility for each feature by a designated engineer.
• Development starts with a frozen backend-frontend contract and simulator to allow parallel progress.
• AI assistance (Claude Code) writes most code; engineers direct, review, and validate it by running working apps.
• A single design system ensures components are reusable and maintained centrally.
• Features are deployed behind feature flags for easy verification and rollback.
• Communication is artifact-driven with minimal meetings—structured documentation supports smooth handoffs.
• Completion is measured by demonstrated functionality—screenshots, green flags, and rollback capability—not just code submission.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a flag-gated feature within your initial weeks, reviewed by senior engineers.
• Develop and maintain backend services (Python/Django), web frontend (TypeScript/React), and mobile applications (React Native) concurrently.
• Manage the verification process independently by driving workflows, capturing logs and screenshots, and ensuring all criteria are met.
• Contribute improvements to the shared design system and maintain coding best practices.
• Progress to owning entire feature lifecycles, including design, simulation, integration with AI tools, deployment behind flags, and monitoring success metrics.
• Eventually engage in forward-deployed engineering roles, managing external client projects and delivering live demos.

Candidate Profile

• Strong Python foundation with experience shipping backend APIs (Django/DRF/FastAPI), solid data modelling, writing tests, and basic SQL skills.
• Proficient JavaScript/TypeScript knowledge, particularly with React on web; familiarity or interest in React Native preferred.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering working projects through internships, side projects, hackathons, or open source contributions.
• Comfortable with AI-assisted coding tools, reviewing AI output by executing the app rather than only code diffs.
• Excellent written communication skills to produce clear, structured documentation supporting the engineering pipeline.
• A mindset oriented toward ownership and independent progress, with sensible default decision-making when awaiting feedback.
• 0 to 2 years of professional experience; recent graduates encouraged to apply.

Preferred Skills (Nice-to-Haves)

• Hands-on experience with mobile technologies such as React Native or Expo.
• Advanced knowledge of PostgreSQL beyond basic usage.
• Familiarity with feature flagging, product analytics tools like Mixpanel, or error tracking systems such as Sentry.
• Background in developing applications using large language models (LLMs) or experience with prompt engineering and evaluation.
• Basic exposure to cloud platforms (GCP), containerization (Docker), and continuous integration workflows.

Benefits and Growth Opportunities

• Work within an AI-native engineering process that is pioneering the industry standard.
• Receive direct mentorship from senior engineers and founding team members at every review gate.
• Follow a transparent growth path progressing from builder to designated responsible engineer and on to external facing forward-deployed engineer roles.
• Access to Claude AI as a dedicated pair programming assistant at company expense.
• Gain comprehensive full-stack development experience across backend, web, and mobile platforms without siloed roles.
• Ownership of features end-to-end including design, implementation, deployment, and live performance monitoring.

Hiring Process

• Initial 30-minute introductory call requesting examples of shipped work.
• Paid, time-limited build exercise requiring AI assistance to deliver a small project based on a frozen API contract and PRD.
• 60-minute deep-dive interview reviewing your technical decisions and development approach.
• Fast offer decision process based on demonstrated skills and AI-native working style.

Additional Information

Location: Forward, PA (onsite role)
Openings: 1
Experience: 0–2 years, new graduates welcomed
Salary and benefits details are discussed directly during the interview process.
Applicants should submit links to live projects, repositories, or demo applications to demonstrate their capabilities.