Full-Stack Software Engineer

Full-Stack Software Engineer Are you passionate about building innovative web applications and using AI to address real-world learning challenges? Do you want to help shape the future of education? PrairieLearn is an early-stage EdTech startup. We are hiring talented Full-Stack Software Engineers. Location: Fully remote (anywhere in the US) Position Type: Full-time Visa Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas at this time. About Us PrairieLearn is an open-source assessment platform, originally developed at the University of Illinois and now used at top universities across the US, including Berkeley, Princeton, Michigan, and UIUC. We empower mastery-based learning and large-scale assessment with an emphasis on reliability and innovation. We are like a "power-user" version of Gradescope/Canvas/Moodle. We’re also developing AI tooling in the product, including LLM agents to help instructors create content, and vision-language models to help grade student work. This is practical, user-facing AI work with real-world impact — not a research sandbox. About the Role We are a small, profitable, open-source, bootstrapped company growing quickly. Our users love us and we have very high retention and rapid spread through word of mouth. As an early-stage hire, you’ll work across the stack and enjoy meaningful ownership from day one. You’ll help deliver practical, user-facing features with clear guardrails and authentic educational impact. Responsibilities • Build and maintain systems across the stack: Node.js/TypeScript backend, Postgres, and React. We use tRPC, TanStack, and AWS. • Design features end-to-end, from conception to rollout, working in a small team to architect and iterate on these features • Collaborate directly with educators and TAs to translate academic needs into high-quality features You Might Be a Fit If You… • Have experience with full-stack web development • Enjoy engaging directly with users—especially instructors and TAs • Love owning projects from initial idea through to production • Love using the cutting edge of AI development tools (Claude, Codex) • Even if you don’t meet every requirement: If you’re a quick learner and passionate about education and engineering, we encourage you to apply! Our Tech Stack • Node.js / TypeScript backend • Postgres, Redis, AWS, Docker • React / tRPC / TanStack • Open source: PrairieLearn on GitHub Why Join PrairieLearn? • Bootstrapped & Profitable: We’re growing quickly and sustainably • Open Source: Collaborate with a global community of developers and educators • Stock Options: As an early hire, you’ll receive stock options with your offer • Remote Culture: Work from anywhere in the US with a flexible schedule • Unlimited PTO & Flexible Hours: Take time when you need it and work when you perform best • Career Growth: Early-stage team members have outsized opportunities for impact and learning Details Location: Remote (US only) Salary: $100k-$140k depending on experience Benefits: Stock options (0.5% - 1.5%), unlimited PTO, flexible hours Type: Full-time Visa sponsorship: Not available PrairieLearn is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Thank you for applying to PrairieLearn!