> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2734204-open-source-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2734204-open-source-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Open Source Engineer - **Company:** SIDEGUIDE TECHNOLOGIES INC. - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $235,000.0 - $260,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Open Source Technology, Api Design - **Published:** September 5, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/open-source-engineer-firecrawl-9918806 ## About the Role Visa: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We're not able to sponsor visas right now, though that may change down the line., * Someone who wants community work to substitute for shipping code * Someone who needs a mapped-out roadmap before they'll make a scope call * Someone who's used open source but never maintained or owned a repo of real scale ## Description Firecrawl is looking for a high-agency engineer to own our open source work. That starts with the main Firecrawl repo - 170k+ stars and counting - which should stay the easiest thing in the category to self-host. It extends to the context primitives we're open sourcing now, starting with anydoc, our document parsing engine. You'll keep the core repo healthy and growing, build out the primitives, and think about what makes each one spread on its own. This is not a developer relations role. We want an engineer who ships the code, reviews the PRs, and makes the repos better every week. Community instincts help, but engineering quality, shipping velocity, and a track record of work people actually use matter most., * Own the main Firecrawl repo end to end - triage issues, review PRs, cut releases, write docs * Keep the self-host experience easy: clone it, run it, keep it running, no surprises * Build out new context primitives, starting with anydoc, our document parsing engine * Make the calls on scope and API design for what belongs in a primitive and what doesn't * Think about what makes an open source project spread on its own, and build toward that * Ship code and review PRs every week - this is an engineering seat, not a community seat, * A real open source track record - maintaining a popular repo, or landing significant contributions to one * You care about the self-host experience and know what makes a repo easy to clone, run, and keep running * Comfortable owning a repo end to end, from triaging issues and reviewing PRs to cutting releases and writing docs * You've built parsers, crawlers, browser tooling, or developer libraries, and have taste in what belongs in a primitive and what doesn't * You understand how open source turns into adoption and pay attention to why some projects take off * High agency - happy to make calls on scope, API design, and what gets merged * Often a maintainer, ex-founder, early startup engineer, or builder with impressive public work, Technical Chat (~45 min) - Ship something real on one of our open source repos, paid at a contractor rate. It's the truest signal for both sides: you see what maintaining Firecrawl's open source work actually feels like, and we see how you operate., Paid Work Trial (1-2 weeks) - Ship something real on one of our open source repos, paid at a contractor rate. It's the truest signal for both sides: you see what maintaining Firecrawl's open source work actually feels like, and we see how you operate. ## Related Videos - [For the REST of us: API First and Conway’s Law](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1932-for-the-rest-of-us-api-first-and-conway-s-law) - [API Design - Getting Started](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/33-api-design-getting-started) - [Embracing the Hybrid Cloud: Unlocking Success with Open Source Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/883-embracing-the-hybrid-cloud-unlocking-success-with-open-source-technologies) - [Edit Your Future: Queerverse Radical AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/909-edit-your-future-queerverse-radical-ai) - [Harnessing the Power of Open Source's Newest Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1448-harnessing-the-power-of-open-source-s-newest-technologies) - [From developer to instructor and DevRel: navigating roles as as a woman in the tech industry](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/867-from-developer-to-instructor-and-devrel-navigating-roles-as-as-a-woman-in-the-tech-industry) ## Related Articles - [Navigating a Career in Open Source](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/573-navigating-a-career-in-open-source) - [The Future of Open Source: A Deep Dive - Scott Chacon at WeAreDevelopers World Congress 2024](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/471-the-future-of-open-source-a-deep-dive-scott-chacon-at-wearedevelopers-world-congress-2024) - [The Best X (Twitter) Accounts for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/294-the-best-x-twitter-accounts-for-developers) - [Dev Digest 137 - AI'm not sure about this](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/485-dev-digest-137-ai-m-not-sure-about-this) - [Dev Digest 131 - AI'm not sure about OSS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/472-dev-digest-131-ai-m-not-sure-about-oss) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers)