tl;dr — We’re recruiting an architect to design operational systems for the best startups in the world. More on us, who we’re looking for, and why you should care below. 👇

About us:

We are railblocks.com - the ops engineering team for startups. We develop internal tools, workflows and data to help startups like Lovable, Mercury, On Deck and Lighthouse do more with less, at scale.

At a glance

• Job Title: Founding Architect, Architect, System Architect, Ops Architect depending on preference and experience level.

• Location: Remote-first.

• Salary range: Depending on experience.

The role

We’re looking for a sharp, systems-minded, and motivated Architect to join our team. This role is client-facing and design-focused.

You’ll work closely with our founders and startup clients to audit, map, and redesign their operational systems from end to end. You’ll translate messy workflows into clear & robust processes, recommending the right mix of tools, defining where custom builds are required, and prototyping first versions yourself using no-code and low-code platforms, APIs, and AI-powered scripts.

Beyond the first build, you’ll help guide the evolution of these systems: coordinating with developers, acting as a product manager, and ensuring solutions scale without losing clarity. This role is perfect for someone who thrives at the intersection of client management, systems thinking, and technical execution and who gets excited by tooling, AI, and infrastructure.

Key responsibilities

Client Partnership & Discovery

• Lead clients through audits of their current operational systems, uncovering gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities.

• Manage expectations, document clearly, and communicate complex systems in accessible ways.

System Architecture & Design

• Design holistic operational systems that balance off-the-shelf tooling with custom development where needed.

• Recommend best-fit tools and anticipate how systems will evolve as companies scale.

• Bring clarity through diagrams, roadmaps, and documentation.

Prototyping & Execution

• Build first versions of systems using no-code and low-code tools (Airtable, Retool, Zapier, Attio, etc.) combined with APIs and AI-powered scripts.

• Deliver high-leverage prototypes quickly while setting foundations for long-term scalability.

Technical Collaboration & Delivery

• Act as a product manager for technical projects: coordinating with developers, prioritizing tasks, and ensuring delivery aligns with client needs.

• Serve as the bridge between startup founders, operations teams, and developers, translating business requirements into technical plans.

Things we’re looking for

• Proven ability to manage and grow relationships (external clients or internal collaborators), balancing technical depth with clarity and empathy.

• Strong system design mindset: logical, structured, able to anticipate edge cases and build for scale rather than one-off automations.

• Execution skills: comfortable prototyping in no-code/low-code environments, integrating APIs, and experimenting with AI-assisted development.

• Technical literacy: confident interacting with developers, reviewing architectures, and leading projects as a PM.

• Extensive curiosity and hands-on knowledge of modern tooling from established platforms (Notion, Slack, Stripe, Linear) to emerging AI-driven solutions & new infrastructure tools.

• Analytical, first-principles thinker with the ability to see both the forest and the trees.

• Bonus: technical background with strong technical foundations.

• Bonus: passion for AI, automation, and the future of internal tooling.

Why work with us

• You’ll work with some of the fastest growing startups in the world, solving problems at the core of their operations.

• You’ll get to shape their operational systems end to end: designing, prototyping, and guiding technical delivery.

• We’re tool-agnostic but deeply curious: you’ll constantly explore, test, and design with the latest platforms.

• You’ll collaborate with a team obsessed with clarity, impact, and building the future of operational infrastructure.

Why you shouldn’t work with us

• You prefer highly structured environments and want to be closely managed.

• You don’t enjoy working directly with people or explaining technical concepts in simple terms.

• You find tooling, AI, and operational design uninteresting.

• You’d rather work on isolated features than own systems end to end.

• Navigating ambiguity and complexity stresses you out more than it excites you.