Rapid Prototyping Engineer (Junior / Entry Level)

Rapid Prototyping Engineer (Junior / Entry Level)

Location: Toronto, ON (On-site)
 Job Type: Full-Time
 Reports to: Head of IT & Engineering

About Fulfillment IQ (FIQ)

Fulfillment IQ is redefining what’s possible in logistics and supply chain technology. As a leading consultancy and solutions partner, we help brands, retailers, and 3PLs solve complex challenges—from selecting modern tech stacks to building custom software and deploying enterprise platforms.

Our globally distributed team of engineers, strategists, and logistics experts blends deep technical experience with practical industry knowledge. We value experimentation, fast learning, and clear execution. If you're early in your career and want to build real products that make real impact, this is the place to grow.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Rapid Prototyping Engineer (1–3 years experience) who is passionate about building quick, functional prototypes using Python, Next.js, MongoDB, and modern AI-assisted workflows.

This role is ideal for a strong junior developer who loves to explore, assemble solutions quickly, debug across the full stack, and use AI coding tools to accelerate development while maintaining code quality and reliability.

You'll work in short, focused cycles to turn ideas into functional proof-of-concepts that validate technical direction before they evolve into production-grade MVPs.

What You’ll Do

Rapid Prototyping & Development

• Build quick proof-of-concepts using Python (FastAPI preferred), Next.js/React, MongoDB, REST/GraphQL APIs.
• Use AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor) to accelerate development.
• Integrate data sources, SDKs, and public APIs into working prototype applications.
• Implement simple front-end UIs for demos and functional flows using js, Tailwind, React Hooks, and basic component libraries.

Debugging & Problem-Solving (Critical Skill)

• Debug full-stack issues across frontend, backend, API gateways, environment variables, Dockerized services, and MongoDB queries.
• Troubleshoot performance issues, CORS errors, and build/runtime failures in local and cloud environments.
• Use Chrome DevTools, Postman/Thunder Client, MongoDB Compass, and logging tools to diagnose problems quickly.

AI-Assisted Development

• Write structured prompts to generate or refactor code safely.
• Evaluate AI-generated code for correctness, security, and maintainability.
• Document useful prompts and patterns so they can be reused by the team.

Iteration & Feedback

• Work in 1–2 week time-boxed cycles with frequent demos.
• Capture stakeholder feedback and refine prototypes quickly.
• Participate in lightweight peer reviews and code walkthroughs.

Quality, Security & Best Practices

• Use automated linting, type checking, and simple unit tests to validate prototypes.
• Run dependency checks and basic security scans.
• Follow Git branching workflows, commit hygiene, and documentation standards.

Documentation & Handoff

• Write clear README files, setup instructions, and notes on design decisions.
• Prepare prototypes so they can transition smoothly into production teams.

Required Skills & Experience (1–3 Years)

Core Technical Skills

• Strong programming skills in:
  • Python (FastAPI, Flask, or similar)
  • js / React (TypeScript or JavaScript)
  • MongoDB (queries, indexes, basic schema design)
• Experience integrating and debugging:
  • REST APIs
  • Webhooks
  • Authentication (Auth0, Keycloak, JWT, OAuth)
• Ability to debug across the stack:
  • Frontend console errors
  • Backend logs, exceptions, stack traces
  • Database queries
  • Network issues (CORS, headers, environment variables)

AI-Assisted Coding (Modern Trend)

• Familiarity with GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or similar tools.
• Understanding of when to trust vs. verify AI-generated code.
• Ability to write structured prompts for code generation and refactoring.

DevOps & Cloud Basics (Trending for junior roles)

(Not deep expertise—just working knowledge)

• Docker fundamentals (build, run, logs, Docker Compose).
• GitHub Actions or similar CI basics.
• Cloud familiarity (Azure, AWS, or GCP) is a plus.

Modern Tooling & Practices

• Experience with:
  • Postman / Thunder Client
  • Chrome DevTools
  • MongoDB Compass / Atlas
  • VS Code extensions
• Understanding of API rate limits, pagination, and caching basics.

Extra “Nice to Have” Skills (Based on current market trends)

(Not required, but strong differentiators)

• Basic ML or LLM usage (Hugging Face, embeddings, vector databases like Pinecone/Chroma).
• Experience with serverless functions (Vercel, Cloud Functions).
• Knowledge of TailwindCSS or component frameworks (Shadcn, MUI).
• Familiarity with GraphQL.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number of functional prototypes completed.
• Time from idea to demo-ready build.
• Debugging efficiency and problem-resolution speed.
• Quality of code (readability, reliability, low defect rate).
• Effective use of AI coding assistants.
• Reusability of prompts and prototype components.
• Positive feedback from stakeholders on clarity and speed.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Work That Matters

Your prototypes will influence real-world logistics operations and become the foundation of production systems used by major brands.

Career Growth

As a junior engineer, you will receive:

• Mentorship from senior engineers
• AI/ML training opportunities
• Hands-on experience across the stack and cloud platforms

Flexibility & Culture

We’re a remote-first team with flexible work arrangements and a culture that values curiosity, experimentation, and learning.

Benefits & Perks

• Supplementary health benefits & wellness program
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and statutory holidays
• CPP contributions + additional retirement programs
• Learning & development budget
• Internet and workstation reimbursement
• Anniversary rewards and an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP)
• Company meetups, team events, and collaborative culture