How to Hire Your First Engineer as a Non-Technical Founder
A comprehensive guide for non-technical founders on finding, evaluating, and closing your first engineering hire.
Roles Team
Talent Advisors · January 15, 2025
# How to Hire Your First Engineer as a Non-Technical Founder
Hiring your first engineer is one of the most critical decisions you'll make as a founder. Get it right, and you'll have a technical partner who can turn your vision into reality. Get it wrong, and you could waste months of runway and momentum.
Why This Hire is Different
Your first engineer isn't just filling a role—they're setting the technical foundation for everything that follows. They'll make architectural decisions that persist for years, establish coding standards, and likely hire the next several engineers.
What to Look For
### Technical Competence You need someone who can build, not just advise. Look for: - A track record of shipping products - Experience with your target tech stack (or ability to learn quickly) - Understanding of scalability (even if you don't need it yet)
### Startup Mindset Big company engineers often struggle in early-stage environments. Look for: - Comfort with ambiguity - Willingness to wear multiple hats - Speed over perfection mentality - Previous startup experience (ideal but not required)
### Communication Skills As a non-technical founder, you need someone who can: - Explain technical concepts clearly - Push back constructively when needed - Collaborate on product decisions
Where to Find Candidates
1. **Your Network**: Start with warm introductions 2. **Technical Communities**: Hacker News, specific Discord/Slack communities 3. **AngelList/Wellfound**: Startup-focused job board 4. **Specialized Recruiters**: Consider firms that focus on startup hiring
The Interview Process
### Technical Assessment Even without technical knowledge, you can evaluate: - Have them walk through past projects - Ask about technical decisions and trade-offs - Get a technical advisor to conduct a coding interview
### Culture Fit - Why startups? Why this startup? - How do they handle disagreement? - What's their ideal working environment?
Closing the Deal
Top engineers have options. To close them: - Sell the vision and mission - Offer meaningful equity - Be transparent about challenges - Move quickly (don't let them get away)
Red Flags to Watch
- Overemphasis on process over shipping - Inability to explain things simply - No questions about the business - Badmouthing previous employers
Your first engineer sets the tone for your entire technical organization. Take your time, but don't be paralyzed. The perfect candidate doesn't exist—find someone great and grow together.