Founding Engineer - AI for Hardware Engineering

Job Description

Job Title: Founding Engineer (AI for Hardware Engineering)

Location: San Francisco, CA

• On-site, Remote
  
  

Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Compensation: $180,000–$250,000 + 0.1%–1% equity

Company Overview

A stealth-stage startup building AI for hardware engineering at complex manufacturers. Founded 2025, 1–10 people (Seed), backed by top-tier venture investors, with a founding team from senior industry and government leadership.

The Role

Build core systems for an automation engine in hardware engineering. Design, implement, and post-train AI agents for global enterprise customers. As a first technical hire, own mission-critical systems end-to-end.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement core workflows and infrastructure for hardware engineering agents (context management, indexing, post-training)
• Build ML models that interpret complex engineering design data and integrate with enterprise tools
• Work closely with customers and engineering team to deliver reliable AI-powered workflows

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• Prototype rapidly, validate with real users, and ship frequently
• Influence engineering culture and product direction
  
  

Tech Stack

Discover more

Data Management

Data Analysis

Text & Instant Messaging

Python, PyTorch, Hugging Face, W&B

Requirements

• 2-6 years of experience (open to exceptional new grads)
• Strong Python and ML library experience (PyTorch, Hugging Face, W&B)
• Experience building production ML or AI systems
• Strong familiarity with LLM architectures and agent research trends
• Bachelor's or higher in CS, ML, or equivalent

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• Genuine interest in technology
  
  

Green Flags

• Experience in law/policy or customer-facing product work
• High-impact contributions or published papers at top-tier AI lab/team
• Background in domains with real-world constraints (automotive, aerospace, robotics, energy)
• Experience with geometric data, CAD, or complex engineering design data
• Post-training or fine-tuning experience
• Interest in AI, hardware development, and policy intersection
  
  

Red Flags

• Only research/academic AI with no production background
• Weak customer collaboration skills

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• Slow-moving or process-dependent
• No experience with search, information retrieval, or complex data systems
• Only cares about salary
• Random resume padding
  
  

Why Join

• Founding-level ownership of mission-critical AI systems
• Backed by top-tier investors with senior industry/government founding team
• Build AI for iconic automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers
  
  

Details

• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Work policy: On-site in SF highly preferred; open to exceptional remote
• Compensation: $180,000–$250,000 + equity
• Visa sponsorship: H-1B, O-1, OPT
• Employment type: Full-time