Founding Engineer (Applied AI)

About the Role

Join an early-stage, seed-funded AI startup in the construction tech space that is automating the process of reading construction blueprints and extracting material and cost data. The company is tackling a massive, largely manual industry problem using cutting-edge computer vision and AI — and this hire will be a core part of the technical foundation. If you love hard problems, shipping quickly, and iterating directly with users, this is the role for you.

What You'll Do

• Focus on the intelligence layer — ML models, algorithms, and AI systems — rather than the application layer
• Apply the latest computer vision, LLM, and AI techniques to real construction documents (blueprints, plans, specs)
• Ship initial prototypes fast, then iterate based on direct user feedback
• Help design and coordinate a model-garden architecture for blueprint understanding
• Work on object detection models and supporting ML pipelines in production

What We're Looking For

Required:

• Hands-on applied Computer Vision and ML/Deep Learning experience
• Strong Python skills
• Proven 0-to-1 builder — you have shipped AI/ML systems to production
• Growth mindset: we value trajectory over pedigree
• Comfortable with ambiguity, early-stage grind, and getting deep into hard problems
• Communicates with empathy and honesty

Nice to Have:

• Prior founder or startup experience — you've built something people used or paid for
• Background in construction, architecture, or related trades
• Impact-driven mindset aligned with making housing and infrastructure more accessible

Compensation & Details

• Salary: $100,000 – $180,000 USD annually
• Employment: Full-time
• Visa sponsorship: Not available

Location

This role is fully on-site in San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be SF-based or willing to relocate.