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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 Edinburgh employer: Arou
Contact Detail:
Arou Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in Edinburgh
✨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. Share your work on GitHub or create a personal website. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can contribute to Arou’s mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to Arou and express your interest in being part of their founding team. A friendly email or message can go a long way in making a memorable impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for that virtual coffee chat! Research Arou’s mission and values, and think about how your skills align with their goals. Be ready to discuss your passion for building community and how you can help tackle loneliness through technology.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're 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 the skills and experiences that align with our mission at Arou. Highlight any relevant projects or roles that showcase your ability to create meaningful connections and build products.
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’s the best way for us to keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arou
✨Understand the Product and Community
Before your interview, take some time to really understand Arou's mission and how it aims to foster genuine connections. Familiarise yourself with their current community dynamics and think about how your engineering skills can enhance this experience.
✨Showcase Your Passion for Building
Be ready to discuss your previous projects and how they’ve made a difference in people's lives. Highlight your drive to create products that not only function well but also resonate with users on a deeper level.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since Arou is looking for someone who can ship fast and iterate, prepare examples of how you've adapted to changing requirements or feedback in past roles. This will show that you can thrive in a dynamic environment.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions about Arou’s vision and future plans. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the role aligns with your values and aspirations. Think about how you can contribute to their growth and community engagement.
