Hazel (YC W24) Is Hiring Full Stack Engineers

Hazel, a brand-new Y Combinator startup, dropped a job post for U.S.-citizen-only full stack engineers who can snag a Top Secret clearance—cue instant comment flame war. The pitch: use AI to help government agencies buy things faster, from classroom supplies to defense drones. The crowd split fast. One camp cheered the mission—“finally someone fixing the glacial mess”—while another rolled their eyes at “Palantir vibes but for staplers.” The $2.7 trillion government purchasing universe is huge, and Hazel says slow buying has real consequences, from wildfire response to national security, but skeptics called that “hype with a hero cape.”

The hottest drama? The U.S.-citizens-only line. Some argued it’s necessary for Top Secret work; others called it “exclusionary,” noting green card holders left out. A clearance meme storm followed: “Top Secret to buy paper clips?” and “polygraph for purchase orders.” Meanwhile, engineers grilled the post for being light on comp and stack details, and roasted the motto “workhorses, not showhorses” with horse memes galloping across threads. Supporters highlighted the school angle—“If teachers get supplies faster, ship it”—while critics worried AI could embed bias in awarding contracts. The vibe: half mission-driven optimism, half side-eye over ethics, red tape, and burnout—classic YC launch-day energy. Check the company blurb here: Hazel on YC.