# Lapel Opens 9 Roles in San Francisco to Build AI-Driven Hospitality Software

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-11-04
**Category:** software
**Tags:** yc-hiring, artificial intelligence, hospitality tech, software engineering, product design

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/lapel-opens-9-roles-in-san-francisco-to-build-ai-driven-hospitality-software)

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San Francisco-based hospitality technology company [Lapel](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-companies/lapel) is expanding its core team, opening nine onsite positions following its participation in Y Combinator's P25 batch with $500K in seed funding. Founded in 2025, the three-person startup builds software designed to scale personalized customer service across internet platforms.

## Software Built for High-Touch Customer Service

Lapel aims to scale personalized service to every customer. The company develops artificial intelligence infrastructure designed to automate and enhance high-touch customer support and success interactions.

The platform relies on specialized agent architectures and foundational software primitives. To scale these systems, Lapel is hiring a [Backend Engineer, Agents](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-agents-112031) and a [Backend Engineer, Primitives](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-primitives-112029) to construct the backend systems underlying its service model.

## Founded by Midjourney and Chick-fil-A Alums

Lapel was founded by [Nikolas Huebecker](https://zerogtalent.com/people/nikolas-huebecker) and [Coleman Oates](https://zerogtalent.com/people/coleman-oates). The pair previously co-founded Onward in the Y Combinator S23 batch.

Before founding Lapel, Huebecker led the product team at Midjourney, while Oates scaled hospitality operations at Chick-fil-A. Their shared goal at Lapel is building software that sets a new standard for service on the internet by blending large-scale AI product design with enterprise service operations.

## Hiring Technical and Operational Leadership

With three employees currently on staff, Lapel is growing across engineering, design, brand, and recruiting. All open positions are located onsite at the company's San Francisco headquarters and offer annual salary ranges from $150,000 to $250,000.

The engineering organization is building out core infrastructure through roles such as [Backend Engineer, Core Platform](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-core-platform-112030) and [Backend Engineer, Generalist](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-generalist-112032). In parallel, product execution is supported by open roles for a [Product Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/product-engineer-112037) and a [Design Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/design-engineer-112035).

Beyond engineering, Lapel is recruiting non-technical functions to support organizational growth, advertising roles for a [Product Designer](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/product-designer-112034), a [Head of Brand & Content](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/head-of-brand-content-112033), and a [Talent Lead](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/talent-lead-112036).

## Open Roles at Lapel

| Role | Location | Work Mode | Salary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Backend Engineer, Agents](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-agents-112031) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Backend Engineer, Primitives](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-primitives-112029) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Backend Engineer, Core Platform](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-core-platform-112030) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Backend Engineer, Generalist](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/backend-engineer-generalist-112032) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Product Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/product-engineer-112037) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Design Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/design-engineer-112035) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Product Designer](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/product-designer-112034) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Head of Brand & Content](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/head-of-brand-content-112033) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| [Talent Lead](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/lapel/talent-lead-112036) | San Francisco | Onsite | $150,000 – $250,000 |

[See all open roles at Lapel](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-companies/lapel)

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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*