Senior Full-Stack Developer (m/w/d) AI Powered News Startup (Webentwickler | Webdeveloper)

Critch GmbH

  • Munich
  • Post Date: 6. September 2025
Job Description

Our Project:

We're developing an innovative news platform with AI integration. The technical challenges are diverse: content aggregation and LLM-based summaries from various sources, intelligent processing of large data volumes, scalable architecture, mobile-first approach.

Unser Projekt:

Wir entwickeln eine innovative News-Plattform mit KI-Integration (Web & Mobile App). Die technischen Herausforderungen sind vielfältig: Content-Aggregation und LLM-basierte Zusammenfassungen aus verschiedenen Quellen, intelligente Verarbeitung großer Datenmengen, skalierbare Architektur, Mobile-First-Ansatz.


The technical challenge:

  • Build scalable architecture from scratch
  • Multi-source content aggregation (APIs, scraping, feeds)
  • AI integration for intelligent content processing
  • Mobile-first Progressive Web App or Native App
  • High-performance backend for large user numbers

This is primarily a developer position for someone who wants to build a technically complex product from zero. The formal managing director role simply comes with the GmbH structure, but shareholders handle operational leadership and business decisions.


The Role

You're the Lead Full-Stack Developer and formal Managing Director - with development taking up 95% of your time. As Managing Director of the GmbH, you have legal signing authority, but all strategic decisions are made jointly. Product vision and business strategy come from the shareholders - you implement them technically.

Your technical focus (95% of your time):

  • Implementation of the defined product roadmap
  • Backend development (API, database, caching)
  • Frontend development (Web + Mobile)
  • AI integration for content summaries
  • Performance optimization and scaling
  • Code quality and testing

Managing Director duties (5% of your time):

  • Signatures for contracts and documents (always coordinated)
  • Formal representation of the GmbH
  • No independent business decisions - everything is discussed
What You Bring

Technical Must-Haves:

  • Strong coding skills - You live and breathe code
  • 5+ years development experience in production environments
  • Full-stack expertise: Backend (PHP, Python, Node.js, Go - whatever) + Frontend (React/Vue/Svelte)
  • Database know-how: SQL, NoSQL, caching strategies
  • API design: RESTful, GraphQL, WebSockets

AI Development (absolutely critical!):

  • Daily use of AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code, Copilot, etc.)
  • MCP Server Architecture, Cline, Roo - these terms mean something to you
  • Can effectively use LLMs for development and in-product

Mindset:

  • You want to write code, not lead meetings
  • Pragmatic over perfectionist
  • Self-starter who finds solutions independently
  • Interest in news-tech and content aggregation

Languages:

  • English fluent (documentation, libraries, AI tools)
  • German basic (for administrative things)
Who We're Looking For

The ideal candidate:

  • A really good developer excited about an interesting project
  • Someone who wants to focus on coding while others handle the business
  • Ready to work with experienced shareholders and learn from them
  • Entrepreneurial mindset - you understand that startups invest first and harvest later

Experience level - we're open:

  • Senior Developer (5+ years): Ideal if you can hit the ground running
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years): Also good if the skills are right
  • Talented Junior with strong portfolio: Convince us with your code

More important than years of experience:

  • Demonstrable coding skills (GitHub is mandatory!)
  • AI tool experience (Cursor, Copilot, etc.)
  • Willingness to learn and growth potential

Note on the formal MD registration: Yes, a GmbH needs a managing director - that would be you. No, you don't have to write business plans or pitch investors. The shareholders handle strategy, marketing, business development. You do what you do best: code.


What We Offer

Position & Perspective:

  • Permanent position as Managing Director and Lead Developer of a GmbH
  • Clear focus on technical development (95%)
  • MD role gives you official status, but without the usual stress
  • Shareholders handle business strategy and operational leadership

Compensation Model:

  • Introductory phase: Reduced salary during build-up and probation
  • After 6-12 months: First salary adjustment with successful collaboration
  • Long-term (2+ years): Market-rate compensation with established product
  • Equity perspective: Possible after successful collaboration and reaching defined milestones (with vesting period)

Work Environment:

  • 100% Remote - Write code from wherever you want
  • Technical mentorship - Shareholders support with strategic decisions
  • Clear roadmap - You don't have to reinvent the wheel, the vision is set
  • Focus on development - Shareholders handle business topics
  • AI tool budget - All relevant subscriptions covered

Growth Perspective:

  • Start as Developer-Managing Director, grow to Technical Lead
  • On product success: Build a dev team
  • Long-term career development in a growing company

Application Process

Step 1 - Written Application We expect specific answers to these points (no generic applications!):

  1. Your Development Background: Describe your experience with different technologies and show concrete projects
  2. Problem-Solving Approach: Describe a complex technical challenge and your solution approach
  3. Technology Perspective: Your philosophy on technology choice for this project
  4. AI Development Experience: Which AI tools do you actively use? Show concrete examples
  5. Business Thinking: A situation where you balanced technical and business requirements

Required Information:

  • GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket profile or detailed project descriptions
  • If no public code available: reasonable explanation (NDA, etc.) and alternative proof
  • References from previous projects/employers

Step 2 - Technical Evaluation

  • Practical coding test / mini-project
  • Live demonstration of your AI tool usage
  • Architecture discussion for the news platform

Step 3 - Personal Interviews

  • Extensive discovery sessions
  • Technical deep-dives
  • Clarification of managing director role
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