Founding AI Engineer
Summary
Founding engineer at an early-stage construction tech startup in San Francisco building an AI layer that turns blueprints, permits, and construction documents into insights for material takeoffs and cost estimation. You'd own modeling, data pipelines, and inference end-to-end, applying computer vision, LLM, and multimodal AI on-site in SF.
About the Role
This is a founding engineering role at an early-stage construction technology startup building an AI intelligence layer that transforms messy blueprints, permits, and construction documents into actionable insights. You will own the modeling, data pipelines, and inference systems that power automated material takeoffs and cost estimation, directly accelerating the development of housing, hospitals, and schools.
What You'll Do
Apply state-of-the-art computer vision, LLM, and multimodal AI techniques to real-world construction documents.
Rapidly prototype models and iterate based on user feedback and production data.
Build and deploy AI systems that operate reliably on noisy, heterogeneous inputs.
Own the intelligence layer end-to-end, including modeling, data pipelines, and inference.
Collaborate closely with product and users to identify and solve high-impact problems.
Handle practical engineering work including data labeling, ETL, and deployment tasks as part of a small team.
Communicate progress and tradeoffs clearly and empathetically across the team.
What We're Looking For
Hands-on experience applying computer vision, multimodal AI, and LLM techniques in production, including on messy real-world documents or similar unstructured data.
A 0-to-1 builder mindset: experience launching AI systems into production or building core parts of a new product.
Comfort iterating quickly on prototypes driven by real user feedback.
Willingness to take on pragmatic engineering work (data labeling, ETL, deployment) as a founding team member.
Strong communication skills, a growth mindset, and an honest, empathetic approach to collaboration.
Genuine motivation to make housing and infrastructure more affordable, not just to maximize compensation.
Experience building or shipping something that real users or customers used.
US work authorization required; any experience level welcome, including new graduates with relevant production experience.
Construction domain knowledge is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary: $120,000 to $180,000 USD annually, plus equity. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Location
On-site in San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be based in San Francisco or willing to relocate; this is a full-time, in-office role.
What they ask for
Required
- Hands-on production experience with computer vision, multimodal AI, and LLM techniques, including on messy real-world documents or unstructured data
- 0-to-1 builder mindset: experience launching AI systems into production or building core parts of a new product
- Comfort iterating quickly on prototypes driven by real user feedback
- Willingness to take on pragmatic engineering work (data labeling, ETL, deployment)
- Strong communication skills, growth mindset, and honest, empathetic collaboration
- Genuine motivation to make housing and infrastructure more affordable
- Experience building or shipping something real users or customers used
- US work authorization required
- Based in San Francisco or willing to relocate; full-time in-office
Preferred
- Construction domain knowledge
Skills
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