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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 London employer: Arou
Contact Detail:
Arou Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in London
✨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 your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to express your enthusiasm for their mission. For Arou, that means talking about how you value community and connection. Let them see your genuine interest in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to showcase your skills! Prepare a portfolio or examples of your work that highlight your engineering prowess. If you’ve built something that improves lives or fosters connections, share it! This will help you stand out as a candidate who aligns with Arou's vision.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t hesitate to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and genuinely interested in being part of the team from the get-go. Let’s build something amazing together!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer - Volunteer (Equity Only) in London
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 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 tech 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!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It helps us keep everything organised and makes sure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own channels!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arou
✨Know the Product Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand Arou's concept and how it aims to foster genuine connections. Familiarise yourself with their community-building approach and think about how your engineering skills can enhance this product.
✨Show Your Passion for Community
Arou is all about building meaningful friendships, so be ready to share your thoughts on community and connection. Discuss any past experiences where you've contributed to a community or built products that improved people's lives.
✨Demonstrate Your Agile Mindset
Since this role involves shipping fast and iterating, be prepared to talk about your experience with agile methodologies. Share examples of how you've quickly adapted to changes and delivered quality work under pressure.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Engage with the interviewers by asking insightful questions about Arou's vision and future plans. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your values and goals.
