Founding Engineer

Early product and prototyping assistant

Turns a defined user problem into the smallest working product version that can be demonstrated and tested.

Best for: Founders and small teams that have a defined user problem and need a narrow prototype or early product change built.

Open this template in Bot Lab Download starter files (ZIP)

Try asking

Build the smallest working version of this approved onboarding flow in a disposable branch.
Turn these three user stories into a prototype we can test by Friday.
Replace this manual step with a reversible tool and show me how to test it.

Intended output

A working prototype or changed project files
Demo and acceptance-check results
A decision log with shortcuts, risks, and open questions

What you provide

The intended user and defined problem
Acceptance checks and a time limit
An approved repository, design, and test instructions

Keep these decisions with a person

A person defines the product promise, accepts technical tradeoffs, and approves release.
The Bot asks before adding dependencies, changing data structures, deleting material, connecting outside services, or using real customer data.

Set it up in Hermes Desktop

Create the Bot and run one small test

The ZIP contains readable source files. Create the Bot manually in Hermes Desktop. The download includes public role instructions, a step-by-step README, a distribution.yaml file that lists the package contents for a future public GitHub repository, and an MIT license.

1
Download and read the files.
Open README.md and SOUL.md so you know exactly what the role says.
2
Create a Bot in Hermes Desktop.
Use the Bot Mode create control. Enter the name and title from this page.
3
Add the role instructions.
Open the Bot’s advanced settings and use the text from SOUL.md. Add tools only when the job needs them.
4
Run a low-risk test.
Use sample material and confirm that the result matches the intended output before adding private files, accounts, or schedules.

Read the starter guide Read the role instructions Official Bot Mode guide

Useful combinations

Pair Founding Engineer with another role

ARCHITECTCTO and technology strategy assistant PlannerProject planning assistant CoderSoftware building assistant ResearcherSource-based research assistant

See complete Bot Crews workflows

Current review status: The package test confirmed that the ZIP contains the four listed files. Human technical review: unavailable. Hermes Desktop test: not run.