Retell AI is using first principles to reimagine the call center with cutting-edge voice AI.
Thousands of companies now utilize Retell’s AI voice agents to handle sales, support, and logistics calls that once required large teams of human agents. Backed by Y Combinator, Alt Capital, and other leading investors, we have scaled rapidly to tens of millions in ARR with a small, high-velocity team.
Our vision is to build a modern customer experience platform where AI agents operate as frontline workers, QA systems, and operational managers continuously executing, monitoring, and improving customer interactions.
We’re looking for builders who want to work on the hardest problems in applied AI, move fast, and have outsized ownership in shaping the company.
Let’s build the future together.
We’re a top 50 AI app in a16z list: https://tinyurl.com/5853dt2x
#4 on Brex's Fast-Growing Software Vendors of 2025: https://www.brex.com/journal/brex-benchmark-december-2025
We're also one of the top ranking startups on: https://leanaileaderboard.com/
Enterprise tech 30: https://www.wing.vc/et30/overview
Founders Initiatives is a cross-functional team that works directly with Retell's founders on the company's highest-priority opportunities and challenges. Team members are expected to operate across functions, build from first principles, and help scale the business in whatever way creates the most impact.
This is not a narrowly scoped role, it is a high-ownership builder position where you will work across product, engineering, GTM, operations, and AI systems to design and ship core company infrastructure.
ABOUT THE ROLEWe are hiring a Software Engineer, Founders Initiatives to design and build internal and external AI systems that power how Retell hires, sells, operates, and scales.
You'll build production-grade AI workflows, automations, and agent systems that have a direct impact on company operations and customer experience.
This role sits at the intersection of applied AI, full-stack engineering, and startup operations. We're open to exceptional new graduates (0–1 years of experience) who have demonstrated strong engineering ability through internships, research, personal projects, or startup experience.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIESHR & Recruiting AI SystemsBuild systems that extract structured signals from resumes (skills, experience, founder traits, domain expertise)
Develop lead scoring models to predict interview success and role fit
Design AI recruiter workflows for candidate screening and qualification
Automate personalized outbound email and candidate engagement workflows
Build automation systems for customer security workflows (BAAs, DPAs, DocuSign, contract review flows)
Automate security questionnaire and compliance response generation
Improve internal tooling for enterprise readiness and audit processes
Build systems for accounts receivable automation and finance-related email workflows
Create automated enterprise customer onboarding and account setup tools
Design internal systems that reduce manual operational overhead across teams
Integrate with CRM systems such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and GoHighLevel
Build workflow automation using tools like Zapier, n8n, and Make
Design LLM-powered systems using OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, and other models
Own API-based integrations that connect internal systems across the company
Build HubSpot and Lark automations to improve sales and marketing efficiency
Develop lifecycle automation systems for customer engagement and retention
Create targeted website personalization and ad content generation systems
Build email personalization and outbound automation pipelines at scale
Have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
Are a new graduate or have up to 1 year of professional software engineering experience.
Have completed strong internships, research, startup work, or meaningful side projects that demonstrate exceptional engineering ability.
Think like a founder and take ownership from day one.
Have strong software engineering fundamentals (backend, full-stack, or systems).
Have hands-on experience building with LLMs, AI agents, or modern AI tooling through internships, research, or personal projects.
Are excited to work across product, engineering, and operations.
Move quickly, learn fast, and thrive in ambiguous environments.
Prefer building end-to-end systems over working on narrowly defined tasks.
Care deeply about solving real customer problems and shipping impactful products.
Cash: 180k - 270k
Equity: Offers Meaningful Equity
Location: Redwood City, CA, US
US Visas: Retell AI is open to sponsoring work authorization for qualified candidates, including H-1B, TN, L-1, E-3, F-1 (OPT/CPT), and O-1 visas.
100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance
$70/day DoorDash credit for unlimited breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
$200/month wellness reimbursement (gym, fitness classes, etc.)
$300/month commuter reimbursement (gas, Caltrain, etc.)
$75/month phone bill reimbursement
$50/month internet reimbursement
Best Offer Upfront: Choose from three cash-equity balance options; no negotiation needed.
Top 1% Talent: Above-market pay (top 5 percentile) to attract exceptional builders.
High Ownership: Small teams, >$1M revenue/employee, and significant equity.
Performance-Based: Offers tied to interview performance, not experience or past salaries.
INTERVIEW PROCESS
Intro Call (15-20min): Connect with our talent team to get a deeper look at the team and the work you'd be doing.
First Technical Phone Interview (45 min): System Design & Project Deep Dive
Second Tech Screen (45min): Tools & Automation
Final Interview
Coding and Technical Round (90 min)
Cross-Functional Interview (30 min)
Past Project Deep Dive (30 min)
