Community Builder and Product Engineer

Note: For this role, we are asking you to record a video about your past experience with startups, programs and community management — share whatever you think is relevant for success in this role. Please aim for no more than 2 minutes, and share the private Youtube URL in your application/message.

This is a hybrid builder role focused on growing and scaling YC’s talent ecosystem through both community-building and software.

You’ll design and run high-quality programs and events that connect exceptional people with YC startups — and you’ll also build the tools, systems, and AI-powered workflows that make those efforts scalable.

This is not a traditional events role. You’re not just organizing — you’re engineering systems around communities.

If you’re someone who enjoys bringing people together and writing code to amplify that impact, this is a uniquely high-leverage role.

TL;DR

You build communities and the software that powers them

You’ll work directly with founders, developers, and talent across the YC ecosystem

You’ll improve and extend YC tools (like Work at a Startup)

You’ll use AI to scale community engagement and hiring outcomes

You thrive in ambiguity and take ownership end-to-end

About the Team & Product

Y Combinator runs Work at a Startup (workatastartup.com), a platform that connects exceptional candidates with YC startups.

YC also operates a wide range of programs — events, conferences, and partnerships — that serve as the top-of-funnel engine for talent into the ecosystem.

This role sits at the intersection of both

• Community → bringing the right people together
• Software → building systems that scale that connection

• What You’ll Do
• Community Building & Events

• Own and run YC’s talent-facing programs: meetups, tech talks, career expos, and more
• Design high-quality in-person and online experiences that connect founders and candidates
• Build relationships across universities, developer communities, and emerging talent networks
• Grow and nurture communities around YC — both online and offline
• Act as a strong external representative of YC

Events Engineering & Internal Tools

• Build tools and systems to manage, scale, and improve events and community engagement
• Contribute code to YC’s internal codebase (including Work at a Startup)
• Automate workflows around candidate discovery, event ops, and follow-ups
• Use AI to improve matching, personalization, and engagement across the ecosystem
• Prototype quickly — from scrappy scripts to production features

Ecosystem & Platform Strategy

• Identify bottlenecks in how talent flows into YC startups and build solutions
• Combine programs + software to create scalable, repeatable systems
• Use data to measure what works and continuously improve outcomes
• Expand YC’s reach into new talent pools and communities

• What We’re Looking For
• Must-Haves

• Strong coding ability — you’re comfortable building real tools and shipping code
• Evidence of building projects, products, or meaningful side projects
• Ability to operate as both a builder and community leader
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• High agency — you take ownership without waiting for direction
• Comfort working in ambiguity and moving quickly

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience running events, communities, or programs
• Experience with developer communities or university ecosystems
• Familiarity with AI tools and interest in applying them to real-world workflows
• Experience in or strong interest in startups

Who Thrives Here

• Builders who want to have impact beyond a single product
• People who enjoy both people and systems
• Individuals who combine technical ability with strong taste and judgment
• Those excited about shaping how communities and talent networks scale

Why This Role Is Unique

• You’ll build software and run programs — not just one or the other
• You’ll have access to YC’s internal tools and can directly improve them
• You’ll help define how AI transforms community building and hiring
• Your work will impact thousands of founders and candida