Engineering Coach - Space Tech Researchers (Director/VP+)

Mento, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 68,880 - 137,760; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Select bonuses based on engagement

ICF-certified coach training program

Job summary

Mento, Inc. is seeking experienced leaders for coaching roles to empower individuals with their careers. As a Mento coach, you will help members set meaningful goals, improve communication, and foster personal growth through 1:1 virtual sessions.

Ideal candidates should have 15+ years in technical research, a strong background in AI/ML, and a passion for coaching. This is a remote, contract position requiring a minimum of 12 hours per month for at least 24 months.

Join Mento in making a significant impact on professionals' lives through transformative coaching.

Qualifications

• 15+ years leading technical research teams in AI/ML or related fields.
• Proven track record in coaching and developing teams.
• Strong communication skills and emotional IQ.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 coaching to members via virtual sessions.
• Participate in ongoing training to improve coaching abilities.
• Share tools and insights with the coaching community.

Skills

Technical research leadership

Coaching skills

AI/ML expertise

Emotional intelligence

Adaptability in startups

Education

PhD or equivalent experience

Job description

About The Role

We are looking for senior leaders in software engineering roles who value learning, growth, and community and who are passionate about developing and coaching people in their field. We are particularly interested in those who have led research engineering teams at high‑growth global tech organizations, AI/ML companies, health tech, or fast‑scaling startups where technical and organizational complexity intersect.

Your background should demonstrate a track record of working with researchers, including those with PHDs, to design, execute, and communicate high‑impact outcomes. You have experience navigating in complex, rapidly evolving problem spaces.

As a Mento coach, you will form 1:1 partnerships with our members to help them identify & track clear goals, become a better leader, communicate more effectively, problem‑solve issues at work, and help them feel happy, fulfilled, and engaged at work and beyond.

All Mento coaches, regardless of coaching experience, are required to participate in our ICF‑certified coach training program to learn Mento’s coaching methodology prior to working with our members. Our coach training is an immersive, transformational training designed to help you grow as a coach, master the Mento Coaching Methodology, and gain access to proprietary tools that set our coaches apart.

This program is ICF‑certified, and participants who successfully graduate will earn Continuing Coach Education Units. If you’re ready to elevate your coaching skills, deepen your impact, and become part of a high‑impact coaching team, we encourage you to apply and take the next step in your journey!

Your routine responsibilities will include:

• Providing 1:1 coaching to Mento members through virtual sessions using the Mento Platform and Tools
• Participating in ongoing training sessions to improve coaching abilities and skills
• Communicating with members via your Mento email or via chat in the Mento App in between sessions
• Being an integral member of the Mento coaching community by sharing coaching tools and insights — helping enhance our coaching practices and fulfill our mission of empowering people to thrive in jobs that they love
• Acting with kindness, respect, and empathy as an ambassador of the Mento community

Who are you?

• A director, vice president, or other engineering leader with 15+ years leading technical research teams either at an AI/ML org, healthteach, space tech, or an adjacent organization.
• A strong technical researcher or engineering manager with expertise in both theoretical and applied AI/ML, large‑scale modeling, computer science or mathematical sciences
• A research leader with publications, patents, leadership in top research organizations, and/or a PhD are preferred
• Someone who wants to turn their people leadership skills into meaningful coaching skills.
• Passionate about helping people advance in the workplace to build fulfilling careers and lives.
• A person who is self‑aware, has a high emotional IQ, and who cares about creating a safe space for others to risk being vulnerable.
• Excited about growing your coaching skills, and you bring a growth‑mindset to the experience, regardless of how long you have been a coach.
• Comfortable working in a constantly‑changing startup environment.
• Able to dedicate a minimum of 12+ hours per month to coaching at Mento for the next 24+ months.

At Mento, we invite new coaches to join us on a rolling basis. The time frame on which we add new coaches is based on the particular needs of our clients and their teams.

Other details

• This is a contract position in which coaches are paid per hour. On top of a flat hourly rate, we offer select bonuses that incentivize engagement with our membership and community growth on our platform
• You must have the capacity to give a minimum of three to five hours per week towards Mento regardless of other commitments and how they may change.
• You are able to work with Mento for a minimum of 24 months in order to build meaningful relationships with our members.
• This is a fully remote position. Candidates must be based in North America or Europe.
• Because this is a part‑time growth opportunity, we are looking to hire experienced senior leaders with deep technical research experience who want to expand their coaching skills.

Our Hiring Philosophy:

All new Mento coaches are required to participate and graduate from our ICF certified coach training program: Mento Coaching 101. This training is rigorous, and our goal is that all participants are able to be matched with members soon after they complete it. We want to make sure that we are both setting our coaches up for success and respecting everyone’s time. Therefore, we hire based on incoming member demand. While we are constantly looking and interviewing for the best coaches to join our team, we will only send offers to candidates for whom we have an immediate need. Candidates who receive a YES from Mento after the interview process will either be sent an offer to join the next monthly Coaching 101 training or be added to our coach shortlist to join us when the demand is there.

Inclusion Statement:

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds may not apply to jobs unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. We strongly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and background will lead to a better environment for our employees and a better product for our users. We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements.