FIVE DIMENSIONS
Each dimension maps directly to what matters in a fast moving startup or growth stage engineering team.
01
Communication
Clear, async ready, responsive in a remote first environment.
English clarity
Responsiveness
Async quality
04
AI Tool Fluency
Using AI as a multiplier, not just being aware of it.
Cursor / Copilot
Output leverage
Daily integration
02
Technical Ability
Real product work, not algorithmic memorization.
Practical problems
System thinking
Code quality
05
Product Orientation
Understanding outcomes, not just completing tickets.
Product thinking
Roadmap awareness
Impact focus
03
Startup Mindset
Ownership, speed, and operating without hand holding.
Ownership
Speed
Ambiguity tolerance
What we look for in each dimension.
IN DETAIL
Communication
The first thing we test is not code. Every candidate records video responses to specific questions about how they work, how they handle unclear requirements, and how they explain technical decisions. Most do not pass this round. The ones who do think clearly and speak clearly, which matters most on a distributed team.
Technical Ability
We do not use generic algorithm puzzles. We give candidates practical problems such as building a small API, debugging a broken system, or designing a data schema under constraints. We look for clean decision making, practical problem solving, and code that reflects how they actually work.
Startup Mindset
A live interview focuses on how candidates operate when requirements are unclear and nobody is handing them a perfect spec. We look for engineers who push back on bad ideas, make decisions without hand holding, and take responsibility for outcomes. We are looking for ownership, not order taking.
AI Tool Fluency
We assess how engineers use AI tools in their daily workflow. Cursor, Copilot, Claude, and other tools are useful only when they improve judgment, speed, and output. We look for engineers who use AI as leverage, not as a shortcut for weak fundamentals.
Product Orientation
We look for engineers who read a roadmap and understand why something matters before writing the first line of code. Strong engineers ask about the user, the goal, and the tradeoff before asking about the spec. Startup teams cannot afford engineers who only execute what they are told.
Fewer than 3 in 10 engineers we evaluate make our bench.
We would rather keep positions open than place someone we are not fully confident in. That standard is what makes the difference for your team.