Full Stack Engineer at Contrarian Thinking in Austin, TX

About Us

Contrarian Thinking is building the infrastructure layer for modern entrepreneurs.

We already have attention.

Now we’re turning it into software.

The goal: Take someone from “I want to buy/build a business” → “I did it” faster than anyone else.

Role

We're hiring a full stack engineer who ships.

You take ideas from rough concepts to live product, fast. Most of your day is self-directed: you scope your own work, make your own calls, and don't wait for permission to fix something that's broken. You write clean-enough code that moves fast, know when to reach for a framework and when to skip it, and treat "I'll figure it out" as a complete sentence. No long specs. No one to hold your hand. High ownership.

When you do engage with leadership, it's to align, not to ask. You come with context, a recommendation, and a short list of decisions that actually need a human. You translate messy ideas into buildable things, push back when a request doesn't make sense technically, and can sit in a strategy conversation without your eyes glazing over. We move fast and we expect you to tell us when we're about to make a technical debt mistake we'll regret in six months.

We work with agencies, offshore developers, and external partners -- and you'll be the connective tissue. That means reviewing their output, writing briefs clear enough that they don't build the wrong thing, and knowing when to stop explaining and just do it yourself. That last part is the difference here: when a vendor misses the mark, you don't escalate or re-brief. You open the repo and fix it. You don't need to babysit vendors, but you need to be the person they can't confuse -- and the person who doesn't need them when it matters most.

What You’ll Do

• Build and ship full-stack web applications end-to-end
• Turn product ideas into working features in days, not weeks
• Integrate systems across CRM, data, and APIs
• Stand up internal tools, dashboards, and lightweight products
• Work directly with product -- no layers, no blockers
• Iterate fast based on real user feedback

Tech Environment

• Cloud & Data: GCP, BigQuery (or similar)
• CRM & Ops: HubSpot, Salesforce (or equivalent)
• Integrations: Slack, Zoom, WhisperFlow, Avoma (or similar tools)
• Data Pipelines: N8N, Fivetran, Airbyte (or comparable)
• Development:
  • Modern frontend frameworks (React/Next.js or similar)
  • Backend systems (Node, Python, or equivalent)
• Tooling: AI-assisted dev (e.g. Claude, Replit or similar)

Note: Experience with this stack is a strong advantage, not required.

What We’re Looking For

• You’ve actually shipped products (links > resumes)
• You can work across the stack without waiting on others
• You move fast and clean things up as you go
• You’re comfortable with ambiguity and minimal direction
• You care about outcomes (live product, usage, revenue)

Strong Signals

• Built and launched something 0→1
• Experience with AI integrations or LLM-powered features
• Built internal tools or data-driven dashboards
• Startup, solo builder, or high-ownership environment

Not a Fit If

• You need detailed specs before starting
• You prefer narrow roles (frontend-only, backend-only)
• You optimize for perfect code over shipped code
• You’ve mostly worked in large, slow-moving teams

Success Looks Like

• Features shipped daily/weekly, not monthly
• Systems that actually get used
• Faster build cycles over time
• Clear impact on revenue or user growth

Why Join

• High ownership, low bureaucracy
• Direct line to product and revenue
• Build fast with modern tooling + AI
• Small team, real impact

Screening Process

Fast. Practical. No theater.

1. Intro Call (20 min): Alignment, background, speed check
2. Build Exercise (2–4 hours max)
   • Take a real product idea
   • Outline + prototype how you’d ship it
   • Focus: speed, clarity, decisions
3. Deep Dive (45 min): Walk through your thinking live
4. Follow-Up Interview(s)
5. Founder Conversation: Final alignment on ownership + expectations

Benefits

• Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support you and your family
• 401(k) with Company Match: Competitive match to help you build long-term financial security
• Flexible Time Off:  Take the time you need to perform at a high level—no unnecessary constraints
• Ownership & Upside: Compensation is structured to reward impact, with meaningful performance-based upside tied to the success of the products and business
• Build Your Own Lane: Opportunity to take on increasing responsibility, lead initiatives, and shape the direction of the company as it grows