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.