Sudarshan Kamath, founder of Smallest AI in Bengaluru, has sparked interest with a unique hiring method for a software engineer role, offering a Rs 40 lakh annual salary without requiring educational background or traditional resumes. The position seeks candidates with 0-2 years of experience and is located in Indiranagar, emphasizing skills over credentials. Applicants should submit a 100-word self-introduction and links to their work. The term “cracked full-stack engineer” informally implies a highly skilled individual, but some online users criticized the offered compensation, arguing it may not meet the expectations for such an exceptional role given living costs.
Sudarshan Kamath, the founder of Smallest AI, has piqued interest on social media by unveiling a unique hiring strategy for a software engineer role at his office in Bengaluru. Mr. Kamath mentioned that candidates need not submit their educational qualifications or resumes for this position, which offers an annual salary of Rs 40 lakh and a five-day workweek. The opening is accessible to individuals with zero to two years of experience and is located in Indiranagar.
“We are looking to recruit a ‘cracked’ full-stack engineer at Smallest AI… Please send a brief 100-word introduction about yourself along with links to your best work to [email protected],” he stated on X.
Check out the tweet here:
We are looking to hire a cracked full-stack engineer at @smallest_AI
Salary CTC – 40 LPA
Salary Base – 15-25 LPA
Salary ESOPs – 10-15 LPA
Joining – Immediate
Location – Bangalore (Indiranagar)
Experience – 0-2 years
Work from Office – 5 days a week
College – Doesn’t matter…
— Sudarshan Kamath (@kamath_sutra) February 24, 2025
The term “cracked full-stack engineer” lacks a formal definition within the tech sector, but it is commonly used in informal settings, such as social media and job listings, to refer to a highly skilled, versatile, and resourceful software engineer adept in both front-end and back-end development. The term “cracked” is likely derived from slang denoting “exceptional” or “remarkable,” suggesting an individual who not only possesses competence but also stands out due to their problem-solving skill, creativity, or efficiency.
Many users lauded Mr. Kamath’s emphasis on skills over formal credentials, while others questioned the proposed salary, arguing it may not be adequate for a top-tier “cracked” engineer.
One commenter noted, “Don’t use ‘cracked’ if you can’t offer a cracked salary; respectfully, it’s not becoming for you or your organization.” Another user remarked, “Indira Nagar is such an expensive area that out of 15 lakhs, only around 1 lakh will be left in hand, with around 35k allocated just for shared accommodation, groceries, weekend expenses, or loan EMIs. You’d be fortunate to save 20k.”