Lead Engineer - ResX

Build the future of last-minute dining. Stay hungry.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Lead Engineer to join our long-time client ResX as their first in-house technical leader. This isn’t a from-scratch build — they’ve already launched in New York and London, and users are actively booking and sharing reservations. But now they’re ready to level up: new features, new cities, a growing team, and a deeper focus on experience, speed, and delight.

You’ll take ownership of their mobile and backend architecture, work directly with the founders, shape the technical roadmap, and lay the groundwork for future hires. You’ll also help define the culture — how they build, how they think, and what it means to create something people talk about over dinner.

If you’re someone who lives and breathes food culture, loves fast-moving environments, and wants your work to have real, visible impact — this is your seat at the table.

What We’re Building

ResX is reimagining how people make last-minute plans. Our platform lets users exchange hard-to-get, last-minute reservations at top restaurants — turning cancellations into joyful opportunities.

We’re not just solving a scheduling problem — we’re helping people experience the best of their city with less stress, more spontaneity, and great food at the center.

We’ve launched in NYC and London and are expanding to new markets.

What You’ll Do

• Own and evolve our current architecture across mobile, backend, and infrastructure
• Build new product features and improve existing ones across the full stack
• Integrate with 3rd-party services (Stripe, Twilio, Firebase, RevenueCat, etc.)
• Collaborate with our offshore dev team to ensure smooth, performant releases
• Work closely with the founders on product strategy and roadmap
• Grow into a leadership role as we build our internal tech team
• Set high standards for code quality, speed, and user experience

Requirements

Skills That Will Make You Successful — and Where You Likely Learned Them

• Full-stack confidence, especially with mobile-focused products
  You’ve worked with TypeScript, React Native, Node, PostgreSQL, AWS, or similar stacks
• Product intuition
  You’ve built consumer apps and know what makes a user experience delightful, fast, and smooth
• Start-up instincts
  You’ve been at early-stage companies or worked closely with founders — you know how to prioritize and move fast without cutting corners
• Leadership readiness
  You’ve mentored others or led projects and are ready to grow into a technical leadership role
• Strong communication
  You know how to translate between technical and non-technical teams, and how to give and receive feedback well
• A love for food and restaurants
  You’re the person your friends text for restaurant recs. You remember the best meal you had in college. You’ve taken a trip just to eat somewhere amazing. You keep lists, take photos, hunt for hidden gems, and get joy from discovering what’s new or timeless

You’ll Love This Role If...

• You want to shape a product that brings joy to tens of thousands of people
• You’re energized by ambiguity, momentum, and early-stage creativity
• You’ve got strong opinions but a collaborative mindset
• You think about UX and product as much as you think about code
• You’re the kind of person who:
• Keeps a running list of places to eat
• Can name your five most memorable meals
• Has planned a trip around a reservation
• Remembers the hole-in-the-wall spot you loved in college
• Takes photos of your food because you care
• Gets texts from friends that say: “Where should I eat tonight?”

This Role Isn’t for You If...

• You want a static task list and minimal product involvement
• You prefer to remain an individual contributor indefinitely
• You’re not interested in building something messy, fast, and meaningful

What You’ll Be Working With

• Frontend: TypeScript, React Native (0.72), Expo.dev, React 18, ReactJS
• Backend: Node.js, NestJS, TypeORM, PostgreSQL, Redis
• Infra: AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, ElastiCache), Docker, Terraform
• Integrations: Stripe, RevenueCat, Twilio, Firebase
• Admin tools: AdminJS, Ruby on Rails, VueJS (legacy)

Logistics

• Location: Must be based near a food-rich U.S. city — New York, LA, SF, Chicago, Miami, or Philly
• Travel: If not NYC-based, you’ll visit a few times per year
• Language: English fluency required

Benefits

Compensation & Perks

• Salary: $180k–$220k
• Equity: meaningful ownership in a product people love
• Founder-adjacent: Work directly with the founding team and help shape the company from the inside
• Creative input: Influence product, hiring, and long-term strategy
• Make something you’d actually use: Especially if you love food