> Why would someone with those skills and qualifications...
Well, because there is more to building a business than code? I certainly know engineers who can be a one-man wrecking crew to build out an initial product. But I don't know any of them who also want to do sales and marketing, accounting and fundraising, HR and the legal side of things.
As far as why they are called "Founding Engineers"... meh, it is just a title, and trends in titles come and go.
Well, because there is more to building a business than code? I certainly know engineers who can be a one-man wrecking crew to build out an initial product. But I don't know any of them who also want to do sales and marketing, accounting and fundraising, HR and the legal side of things.
As far as why they are called "Founding Engineers"... meh, it is just a title, and trends in titles come and go.