Job Description

Most engineers are handed a ticket. At SchooLinks, you own the whole journey.

Our Product Engineers aren't members of a feature team. They are the feature team. You'll start from a problem or a goal, figure out what to build, design the experience, implement it, test it, ship it, and communicate it. No PM to translate for you. No designer to hand you mocks. No QA to catch your bugs before users do. That's not a gap in our process. It's the role.

We're looking for engineers who get uncomfortable when they're too far from the outcome. Who have opinions about UX, not just code quality. Who find product thinking as natural as system design. Who take it personally when something they built doesn't land with users, and who fix it without being asked.

What this looks like in practice

• You receive context on a user problem or business goal, not a spec
• You define your own requirements, break down the work, and manage your own scope
• You make design and UX decisions, getting lightweight feedback when useful
• You write the code, write the tests, and hold yourself accountable for quality
• You communicate progress and outcomes directly to stakeholders

This role is probably not for you if you do your best work inside clearly defined tickets, or if you prefer deep specialization over broad ownership. It might be exactly for you if you've always felt constrained by the boundary between "engineering" and "product" and you're ready for a role that erases it.

The stack

Django / Python backend · React / TypeScript frontend · AWS · PostgreSQL · Celery / Redis

We use AI tools (Claude, Cursor) as a standard part of how we plan, build, and document not as an experiment.

Requirements

What you bring

• Demonstrated ability to own features end-to-end, from ambiguous problem to production
• Strong Python and React proficiency, built through real production work
• Solid AWS and SQL experience in production environments
• Comfortable with async task management and the operational realities of production systems
• You define requirements from a problem statement, you don't wait for a spec
• Strong written communication: specs, release notes, and documentation are part of how you deliver
• This role is for engineers based in Austin, Texas, with the ability to work in the office 1-2 days a week.

Nice to have: Celery, Redis, educational data standards (Ed-Fi, One Roster), or genuine interest in ed-tech, career exploration, or workforce development.

About SchooLinks

SchooLinks is a venture-backed ed-tech company that helps millions of students navigate what comes after high school college applications, course planning, financial aid, career exploration, and more. We have over 80 tools in production used daily by students and school staff across the country.

Compensation Range

$100,000 – $160,000 base + equity + bonus

Compensation is based on experience, skills, and location. Total package includes equity and performance-based bonus. Final offer may fall outside this range.

Benefits

• 100% health care coverage

• 401K with company 2% matching

• Dental & Vision

• Parental Leave

• Subsidized gym membership

• Remote work stipend

• Annual team offsite