Compute Investment Associate — San Francisco

Primary; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Primary in San Francisco is hiring an investment associate to help build out our compute practice. You will source, diligence, and originate investments across the full compute stack and work closely with the team to grow the portfolio.

The role emphasizes learning velocity, curiosity about compute, and a deep Bay Area network, with hybrid in-office 3x/week in SF and occasional travel to NYC. Prior investing experience is not required.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience with at least 1-2 years in a production engineering role at a leading tech company, AI lab, or high-growth startup.
• Computer Science degree or equivalent experience.
• Based in San Francisco and available for full-time with periodic travel to NYC.

Responsibilities

• Source and build relationships with founders, engineers, and operators across the SF compute and AI ecosystem.
• Run diligence on prospective investments - technical differentiation, competitive dynamics, market sizing - alongside the compute pod.
• Represent Primary and our Compute100 efforts across community events, dinners, and podcast tapings to build the firm's brand and network in the Bay Area.
• Help develop and pressure-test investment theses across the compute stack.
• Support the existing compute portfolio, including Etched, as needed.
• Build and maintain a running map of high-signal people and companies worth tracking.
• Help extend Primary's reach into the technical communities - Neo, top engineering orgs, research labs - that produce the next generation of compute founders

Skills

Production engineering experience

Curiosity about compute

Networking in SF tech scene

Education

Computer Science degree or equivalent

Job description

Primary in San Francisco is hiring an investment associate to help build out our compute practice. You will source, diligence, and originate investments across the full compute stack and work closely with the team to grow the portfolio.

The role emphasizes learning velocity, curiosity about compute, and a deep Bay Area network, with hybrid in-office 3x/week in SF and occasional travel to NYC. Prior investing experience is not required.