Ask HN: What do you consider a founding engineer?

1 pointjedberg2 comments

I see a lot of ads for "founding engineer" lately (as I type this there is one on the front page), and it makes me curious what you all consider a founding engineer as opposed to just an engineer?

I'll put my opinion below so it can get voted on with the other opinions.

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I consider a founding engineer someone who has at least 10% equity or at least 1/2 as much as any founder, whichever is less. I feel like the title "founder" requires you to have significant compensation based on the outcome of the company, and not just a paycheck. I don't think it has anything to do with responsibilities -- that the title should be based purely on equity.

An engineer with their name on the documents on incorporation.

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