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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to build a groundbreaking app that fosters genuine friendships.
- Company: Arou, a fast-growing community focused on meaningful connections.
- Benefits: Equity-only role with full ownership and a voice in decisions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on tackling loneliness and shaping the future of friendship.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering and a passion for community building.
- Other info: Work with a dynamic founding team and enjoy flexible hours.
The predicted salary is between 500 - 1500 £ per month.
About Arou
Over the last six months, Arou has grown into a fast-growing community and a new way for adults to make real friends. We’re now turning that into a product. Arou places you straight into a small group chat with three people around you - same age, location and similar interests. It’s an instant friendship group that helps people go from zero to talking, quickly. We then give you the tools to actually keep those friendships going, not just start them.
Think WhatsApp meets Tinder BFF (minus the swiping), built for people who want depth, not endless surface-level connections. So far, everything has grown organically. We now have over 1,500 community members, and 1,200+ TikTok followers, all through word of mouth. We’ve been deliberately testing different audiences and channels - including a 500-person WhatsApp community - to understand what drives genuine connection and sustainable growth before launch. We know our customers.
The Role
We’re building our founding team and looking for a thoughtful, ambitious engineer who wants to ship fast, learn relentlessly, and help shape the future of how people make friends.
Who You Are
- You have a drive to build products that genuinely improve people’s lives.
- You care deeply about community and connection.
- You’re product-minded and commercial - you want to build something people love and that works as a business.
- You use AI as a force multiplier.
- You have a strong bar for quality, but you’re fast - you know when to ship and iterate.
- You’re pragmatic, and curious.
- You’ve got experience as a software engineer (we’re using React Native/Firebase for our MVP, but we value mindset over specific stack).
- You’re calm under pressure, motivated by purpose, and enjoy collaborating with passionate, driven people.
Commitment & Equity
This is an equity-only role. Everyone on the founding team currently has full-time roles, so this is treated as a passion project - we work evenings or weekends (when we can), with weekly syncs to stay aligned and move fast. You’ll have full ownership from day one, a real voice in product and technical decisions, and the opportunity to shape something that will impact millions. You should be excited about building something of your own.
Why Join
- You’ll help build a product that tackles one of the biggest modern challenges: loneliness.
- You’ll join our team at Day 1, right as we launch our MVP - this has the potential to change so many lives.
- You’ll work alongside a founding team who are building at some of the most exciting, fast-growing startups across People, Product, Engineering and Operations.
- You’ll be part of a small, close-knit founding team with ambition, heart, and a bias for action.
If this sounds exciting, drop us a note at hello@arou.app or share your CV - we’ll grab a virtual coffee to chat.
Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in Bristol employer: Arou
Contact Detail:
Arou Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those who are already part of the community you want to join. Use platforms like LinkedIn or even Twitter to connect and engage with them. Remember, personal connections can often lead to opportunities!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects that showcase your engineering prowess, make sure to highlight them. Create a GitHub profile or a personal website where you can display your work. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Arou, and express your interest in contributing. Even if they’re not hiring right now, they’ll appreciate your initiative and might keep you in mind for future roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for those virtual coffees! When you get the chance to chat with someone from the team, come armed with questions about their vision and how you can contribute. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you stand out as a candidate who’s genuinely interested in making an impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for building connections and improving lives.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects your experience and skills that align with our mission at Arou. Highlight any projects or roles where you've built community-focused products or used technology to foster connections.
Show Your Drive: In your cover letter, express why you're excited about this equity-only role. We’re looking for someone who’s genuinely passionate about making a difference, so share your motivation and what drives you to join our founding team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing applicants who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arou
✨Know the Product Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand Arou's mission and how it aims to tackle loneliness. Familiarise yourself with their community-building approach and think about how your engineering skills can enhance this product. Being able to discuss specific features or improvements will show your genuine interest.
✨Show Your Passion for Community
Arou is all about fostering connections, so be prepared to share your thoughts on community and friendship. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've contributed to building a community or improved user engagement. This will demonstrate that you align with their values.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Your Engineering Mindset
Since they value mindset over specific tech stacks, come prepared to talk about your engineering philosophy. Share how you balance quality with speed, and provide examples of when you've had to ship quickly while maintaining high standards. This will highlight your pragmatic approach.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so prepare some insightful questions about Arou's future plans and challenges. This shows you're not just interested in the role but also in the company's vision. It’s a great way to demonstrate your curiosity and commitment to being part of their journey.
