Lead Developer / AI Product Architect

Lead Developer / AI Product Architect

Cinemachina Location: India preferred; Chandigarh strongly preferred

Work Style: Remote + required on-site collaboration with our India team for 4–6 weeks

Trial Project: 4-week part-time paid project Full-Time Compensation: $2,444 USD/month compensation Equity Upside: 1:1 stock option matching for paid hours worked during both trial and full-time employment

About Cinemachina Cinemachina is building the next generation of AI-powered filmmaking tools: a personal movie studio where creators can bring stories, characters, scenes, dialogue, music, and video to life using AI. We are not building another prompt wrapper. We are building a creative production system that connects AI models, local project data, story structure, media assets, APIs, and human direction into one integrated filmmaking workflow. We are looking for an AI-native technical leader who can help lead the development team, architect systems, verify AI-generated code, and turn ambitious product ideas into working software.

About the Role We are hiring a hands-on Lead Developer / AI Product Architect to help lead Cinemachina’s technical development. This person will work closely with Rajinder Singh (Current CTO) and the existing development team, then step into a leadership role so Rajinder can focus on broader Cinemachina, One Machina, and international development projects. This is a builder role, not a management-only role. You should be able to code, architect, review, merge, troubleshoot, test, and lead. You should also be deeply comfortable using AI coding tools such as Claude Code and should already have your own AI-assisted development workflow.

What You’ll Do ● Lead technical development for Cinemachina ● Use AI coding tools to accelerate development while maintaining code quality ● Write technical specifications for both human developers and AI coding agents ● Review, test, merge, and verify code before deployment ● Troubleshoot integrations with AI APIs and third-party tools ● Architect features involving local data, media generation, API workflows, payments, and user-facing interfaces ● Work with Python, HTML, JavaScript, Tailwind CSS, and related technologies ● Help define product architecture and implementation plans ● Coordinate with junior and mid-level developers ● Improve development workflows, testing, release quality, and documentation ● Support the transition from founder-led technical direction to repeatable team execution ● Potentially help lead Cinemachina innovation summits and AI filmmaking workshops around the world

Required Experience ● Minimum 5+ years of professional coding experience ● Strong experience with Python ● Strong front-end experience with HTML, JavaScript, and Tailwind CSS ● Experience building real-world web applications, tools, or production systems ● Experience with APIs, authentication, data flows, and debugging integrations ● Ability to review and verify AI-generated code before merging ● Ability to create technical specifications and implementation plans ● Experience leading developers or coordinating technical work across a team ● Strong GitHub/Git workflow discipline ● Comfortable working in fast-moving startup environments ● Strong written and verbal communication Strongly Preferred ● Deep experience with Claude Code ● Experience with OpenAI, Claude, ElevenLabs, Runway, Google/Veo, Sync.so, or other AI/media APIs ● Experience building AI-native tools or AI-assisted development workflows ● Experience architecting systems involving payments, subscriptions, user accounts, API keys, or media pipelines ● Experience managing remote or hybrid development teams ● Based in or near Chandigarh, India ● Ability to work on-site with our India team for 4–6 weeks ● A dedicated machine or AI coding setup capable of running development tasks while you sleep

Who This Is For This role is for someone who already understands that software development has changed. You are not just “using AI sometimes.” You are actively building with AI, reviewing AI output, improving AI workflows, and learning how to manage multiple AI-assisted development streams without letting quality collapse. You should be excited by the idea of helping build the future of filmmaking, not just closing tickets.

Interview Process We hire based on proof of work, not resumes alone. To apply, candidates should: 1. Connect with Rajinder Singh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajinder\-singh\-2b952911/) or Shivani Thakur (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivani\-thakur\-72375b131/) on LinkedIn 2. Provide a link to their LinkedIn profile 3. Submit a short 5-minute video showing: ○ Their GitHub ○ How they work ○ Their AI coding workflow ○ How they review, test, and verify code ○ Any relevant examples of systems they have built or led 4. Review the Cinemachina website and share: ○ Their vision for Cinemachina ○ How they would contribute ○ How they would help lead the development team 5. Complete a 4-week paid part-time trial project before any full-time offer is made

Trial Project Compensation Selected candidates will begin with a 4-week part-time paid trial project. Trial project pay: $1,111 USD

During the trial, we will evaluate: ● Technical skill ● AI-native development workflow ● Code quality ● Architecture judgment ● Communication ● Ability to work with the existing team ● Ability to write clear technical specs ● Ability to review, test, and verify work before merge ● Leadership potential

Trial Project Stock Option Matching In addition to the $1,111 USD trial project payment, candidates will receive 1:1 stock option matching for paid hours worked during the trial project, subject to final company equity plan documentation and vesting terms.

Full-Time Compensation Candidates who successfully complete the trial project may be offered a full-time role. Full-time cash compensation: $2,444 USD per month Cinemachina’s total monthly allocation for this role is $2,777 USD/month, paid through Think360. This includes the candidate’s cash compensation, administrative overhead, paid vacation, and national holiday coverage.

Full-Time Stock Option Matching Full-time team members will receive 1:1 stock option matching for paid hours worked as a full-time employee, subject to final company equity plan documentation and vesting terms. This means paid work creates both immediate cash compensation and long-term ownership upside.

Additional Benefits and Opportunities ● Stock option / equity upside through 1:1 paid-hour matching ● Leadership role in an AI filmmaking startup ● Opportunity to help build a new creative technology category ● Potential to lead or support innovation summits and AI filmmaking workshops around the world ● Work directly with founders and senior product leaders ● Help shape Cinemachina’s architecture, development culture, and technical roadmap ● Build tools that help creators, families, entrepreneurs, and filmmakers turn imagination into movies

The Kind of Person We’re Looking For We are looking for someone who can say: “Give me the product vision, the current codebase, the team, and the AI tools — and I’ll help turn this into a working system.” This is not a role for someone who needs every task perfectly defined before they begin. This is a role for a technical leader who can create clarity, build systems, guide developers, use AI intelligently, and ship working software.

How to Apply Please send: ● LinkedIn profile ● GitHub profile ● 5-minute video walkthrough of how you work ● Short note on your vision for Cinemachina ● Examples of systems, teams, or products you have helped build Candidates should connect with Shivani Thakur (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivani\-thakur\-72375b131/) or Rajinder Singh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajinder\-singh\-2b952911/) on LinkedIn as part of the application process.