Senior AI Engineer – LLMs & Backend Systems

Job Title: Founding AI Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA (On-site; relocation assistance available) Compensation: $200,000–$400,000 + 0.5%–3% equity Visa: Sponsorship available for most types About the Role We’re hiring a Founding AI Engineer to join our startup’s core team. We are seeking a Founding AI Engineer to help design, build, and launch a multi-agent AI system that will redefine the future of talent evaluation. You’ll join at a pivotal growth stage — our AI-powered platform already serves millions of users and generates strong recurring revenue. This is an opportunity to make a massive impact on both the product and company trajectory from day one. We’re looking for a builder at heart who thrives in fast-moving environments, takes ownership, and can ship production-ready AI products. You should be equally skilled at architecting large-scale backend systems, fine-tuning LLM-driven workflows, and delivering features that impact millions of users. Key Responsibilities Build and scale production AI agents and workflows from 0 → 1 . Architect large-scale backend systems using Python and TypeScript . Ship high-impact features quickly, with full ownership of your work. Leverage AI coding tools (e.g., Cursor , Cloud Code ) to accelerate delivery. Collaborate directly with founders to shape technical and product direction. Requirements 2–8 years of software engineering experience, including shipped large-scale LLM/agent systems . Experience as a founder, founding engineer, or early engineer at a Seed–Series B startup. Some large-tech experience working on complex, scalable systems. Strong skills in Python, TypeScript, infrastructure , and LLM/agent system design . Strong communication skills to explain technical trade-offs. Proven builder DNA — hackathon wins, notable open-source contributions, or personal projects. Preferred Qualifications Degree in Computer Science, AI, or a related technical field from a top-tier institution . Track record of successfully delivering products at scale in AI or related fields. Demonstrated experience using AI developer tools to enhance productivity. Benefits Competitive base salary ($200k–$400k) + generous equity (0.5%–3%). Visa sponsorship available for most types. Relocation assistance to San Francisco. Opportunity to define technical strategy and shape a product used by millions. Work in a high-growth, venture-backed environment with a culture of rapid innovation. Apply today by filling out the application. Please contact Imani Tolbér t at [email protected] for immediate consideration. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $200,000.00 - $400,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Education: Bachelor's (Required) Experience: software engineering: 2 years (Required) Python: 2 years (Required) TypeScript: 2 years (Required) System design: 2 years (Required) Ability to Commute: San Francisco, CA 94114 (Required) Ability to Relocate: San Francisco, CA 94114: Relocate before starting work (Required) Work Location: In person