At a Glance
- Tasks: Build innovative platforms connecting creators with fans and brands in the AI creative industry.
- Company: Join Wonder Studios, a pioneering AI-native film and content studio.
- Benefits: Equity, competitive salary, hybrid work, and direct access to leadership.
- Other info: Be part of a small, ambitious team at the forefront of creativity and technology.
- Why this job: Shape the future of storytelling and redefine how creators earn and connect.
- Qualifications: 5+ years full-stack engineering experience and a passion for AI technology.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: London (Hybrid — The Church, 291 Hackney Road)
Type: Full-time | Equity + Salary
About Wonder Studios
Wonder Studios is an AI-native film and content studio redefining how stories are told. We partner with global brands, artists, and studios to create world‑class campaigns, films, and experiences that merge cinematic craft with cutting‑edge AI technology. Backed by leading global investors, Wonder recently closed a $12M seed round to accelerate its next phase of growth — expanding our team and building the future of storytelling. Our work spans entertainment, advertising, and original content (IP) — collaborating with partners such as YouTube, Google DeepMind, Universal Music Group, Campfire Studios and leading global artists.
We're building the infrastructure that connects creators with fans, tech companies with talent, and filmmakers with the resources they need to make extraordinary work. Wonder's Marketplace is the engine behind all of it — a platform that blends the discovery model of Apple TV with the creator economy of Patreon, built specifically for the AI creative industry. We're not just building a community. We're building the place where the next generation of filmmakers gets found, supported, and paid.
Right now our Marketplace has 2,000+ members, real enterprise clients, and Wonder TV — a curated streaming platform — live inside the app. We're at the inflection point between Circle-hosted MVP and fully custom platform, and we need a founding engineer to help us get there. This is a 0-to-1 role. You'll work alongside Rick (Founding Engineer), Max (Head of Marketplace), and JD (Product & Ops) to own meaningful product surface areas from day one — not tickets in a backlog, but real decisions that shape how creators earn and how talent gets discovered.
What You'll Build
- Wonder TV — Stage 2 and beyond: We're live on Circle (Stage 1). Stage 2 is a custom NextJS frontend reading from Circle's backend — a proper VOD experience with discovery, watch pages, and creator profiles. Stage 3 takes us off Circle entirely. You'll be instrumental in both.
- Jobs Board: A talent marketplace connecting Wonder's creator community with brands, studios, and agencies looking for AI-native creative talent. A standalone product to design, build, and launch. Public-facing profiles connected to Wonder MGMT — portfolio hosting, enquiry flows, social proof, and direct client booking. The infrastructure that makes Wonder a talent platform, not just a community.
- Fan Film Finance: The long-term vision: fans co-financing films directly alongside the creators they follow — micro‑contributions, tokenised film rights, or Patreon-style subscriptions tied to production milestones. Frontier territory. We want someone who finds it exciting.
- Marketplace Infrastructure: Search, discovery, matching, payments, notifications, permissions, moderation — the fundamentals that make a marketplace work at scale.
The Stack
- Frontend: NextJS, React, Tailwind
- Database: PostgreSQL (as we move off Circle)
- Infrastructure: Vercel, Cloudflare, Circle.so (for now)
- Auth: Auth0
- Payments: Stripe
- AI: Fluency with AI tooling is essential — you'll be building on top of it, not alongside it.
What Success Looks Like
- This role is about moving numbers that matter: 2k → 10k MAU — Every product decision you make either accelerates or slows this. You'll own the surfaces that drive it.
- $1M+ ARR from the Marketplace — Through Wonder TV subscriptions, Jobs Board fees, and Wonder MGMT commission. You'll build all three revenue streams.
- Wonder TV as the Patreon of the AI creative industry — Subscriptions, revenue sharing, direct fan contributions, and film financing. The engineer who builds this well isn't shipping features — they're defining a new category.
- Revenue per headcount — Wonder's North Star. Build infrastructure that makes the platform more self‑sustaining and the team more productive.
Who We're Looking For
Background
- 5+ years of full‑stack engineering experience
- Has built and shipped a marketplace, creator platform, or community platform — ideally as an early or founding engineer
- Comfortable owning a feature from database schema to UI
- Strong product opinions, not just engineering opinions — you care about what you're building and why
- AI‑fluent: you use AI tools daily and are opinionated about where they help and where they don't
- London‑based — we're in the Church (291 Hackney Road) and the energy matters
The Person
- Bias to action — ships fast, iterates, doesn't wait for perfect
- High ownership — treats the product like it's theirs
- Commercially curious — understands that great engineering serves a business outcome
- Collaborative — works well with product, design, and non‑technical stakeholders
- Excited by the intersection of culture, creativity, and technology — this isn't a fintech gig
Nice to Have
- Experience with tokenisation, web3 infrastructure, or fan finance mechanisms
- Experience building video or streaming products
- Experience with Circle.so or similar community platforms
- Background in creative industries — media, music, entertainment, or gaming
Why Join Wonder
You'll join a small, ambitious team at the frontier of storytelling and technology — working alongside world‑class creators, technologists, and storytellers who are building what comes next. The Marketplace you'll build will connect creators with fans, tech companies with world‑class talent, and filmmakers with the tools and finance they need to make extraordinary work. It's Patreon meets Apple TV, built for the AI creative era — and you'll be the engineer who makes it real. You'll have direct access to leadership, real ownership from day one, and a community of 2,000+ AI-native creators as your users. At Wonder, we're shaping the future of entertainment. We'd love for you to help build it.
Founding Product Engineer, Marketplace employer: Wonder Studios
Wonder Studios is an exceptional employer for those looking to make a significant impact in the AI creative industry. With a hybrid work model based in vibrant London, employees enjoy a collaborative culture that fosters innovation and creativity, alongside opportunities for personal and professional growth. As part of a small, ambitious team, you'll have direct access to leadership and the chance to shape the future of storytelling while working with world-class creators and cutting-edge technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Product Engineer, Marketplace
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to AI and creative tech. When you apply through our website, make sure to link to it so we can see what you’re capable of right away.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching our company and the role. Understand what makes Wonder Studios tick and how your skills can contribute to our mission. We love candidates who are genuinely excited about what we do!
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. It’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re a perfect fit for the Founding Product Engineer position at Wonder.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Product Engineer, Marketplace
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI and Creativity:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and storytelling shine through. We want to see how you connect with our mission at Wonder Studios and why you're excited about building a platform that merges creativity with technology.
Tailor Your Experience to the Role:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in full-stack engineering and any previous work on marketplaces or creator platforms. We’re looking for someone who can own features from start to finish, so share specific examples of your past projects that demonstrate this.
Be Clear and Concise:While we love a good story, keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your skills and achievements. Remember, we’re busy building the future of storytelling, so help us get to know you quickly!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Wonder Studios!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wonder Studios
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, like NextJS, React, and PostgreSQL. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects and how they can be applied to build the Marketplace at Wonder Studios.
✨Show Your Passion for AI
Since this role is heavily focused on AI, demonstrate your fluency with AI tools and share specific examples of how you've integrated AI into your work. This will show that you’re not just technically skilled but also excited about the intersection of technology and creativity.
✨Prepare for Product Discussions
This position requires strong product opinions, so think about what makes a successful marketplace or creator platform. Be prepared to discuss your views on user experience, monetisation strategies, and how to drive user engagement, especially in the context of the AI creative industry.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Wonder Studios values collaboration across teams. Prepare examples of how you've worked with product managers, designers, and non-technical stakeholders in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate complex technical concepts in a way that everyone can understand.
