Founding Engineer / Lead Software Engineer (w/m/d)

Who we are – and what we're building

For years, Planhof has guided major infrastructure projects through complex permitting procedures – from preparing the application to implementing the conditions imposed by the authorities. Out of that work, we are now developing a software product in a dedicated company: PLIQ, a specialist application for digital permitting management. The first step is an MVP focused on managing regulatory permit conditions.

Behind the product stand an established consultancy with an ongoing business, long-standing client relationships within the target group, and project partners from that same client base who are backing the development with their expertise and will be its first users.

The role

We are looking for our first developer. You will build PLIQ's technical foundation – architecture, data model and codebase will bear your signature, and a development team will later grow around them. Fundamental decisions – stack, hosting strategy, security architecture or make-or-buy questions – we will take together at the outset; our expectation is a proven, maintainable standard stack. From there, the technical execution is yours: architecture and data model, code quality, test strategy and development processes, as well as running the system in production. You will assess requirements for feasibility and effort – and where something is not technically sound, you have the final say. We develop with AI support; how agentic coding tools are put to sensible use is something you will help shape.

Whoever fills this role will shape PLIQ's technical DNA. As the product grows, the role grows with it – you will help select further developers and lead them technically, and the natural next step is building and heading the development team.

Your profile

• At least six years' professional experience in software development, including several years with operational responsibility for a production B2B system – you know migrations on live data, backup and recovery when it counts, and incident handling from your own experience

• Hands-on experience with multi-tenant applications and permission models

• Confident in a modern full-stack environment (e.g. TypeScript, React, PostgreSQL, cloud hosting in Germany)

• A sound grasp of data protection and information security – GDPR-compliant processing, encryption, audit logging

• Experience using AI-assisted development tools in production – or a clear willingness to work that way

• German at C1 level or above – our domain model and our clients' permit decisions are in German

• Enjoyment of independent work in a small team, in direct contact with the users

Experience in regulated or document-intensive industries (e.g. energy, construction, public administration, legal or compliance software) is a plus, not a requirement. Leadership experience is not needed to start – it becomes relevant once you build the team.

What we offer

Senior/lead-level compensation plus equity: base salary plus a Christmas bonus, together with a virtual stock option plan (VSOP) in the range of 0.75% to 1.5% on market-standard terms (four-year vesting, one-year cliff) – and a contractually anchored path to an increased allocation should the role develop into engineering leadership.

Room to shape things: PLIQ is being built from scratch. There are no legacy systems and no prior technical decisions binding you.

Terms: permanent contract, remote by default, modern equipment, in-person meetings on review days in Hamburg.

Further benefits: company bike, Wellpass, 30 days' holiday, freely selectable additional benefits under our flexible benefits scheme.

No cover letter required. Please send us:

• Your CV or a meaningful profile (LinkedIn/GitHub)

• A brief note on a system you have built that ran in production – ideally with two sentences on what you would do differently today

What happens next: an introductory conversation (approx. 45 minutes) and a technical interview (approx. 90 minutes) built around a paid, focused trial task (approx. 4–6 hours, e.g. data modelling) that you will receive in advance.