Founding AI/ML Engineer

HartleyCo; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

HartleyCo, an early-stage AI startup in San Francisco, is seeking a Founding AI/ML Engineer. This role offers autonomy and the chance to make a real-world impact by building AI-driven features. Ideal candidates have a strong technical foundation and thrive in dynamic environments.

Benefits

Autonomy from day one

Real-world impact with fast shipping of code

Cohort culture with driven peers

Rapid growth and learning opportunities

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in data science, ML, or AI engineering.
• Experience in building end-to-end systems: data pipelines, ETL, infrastructure.
• Strong technical foundation ideally in AI/ML-heavy projects.

Responsibilities

• Build and ship AI-driven features and systems from scratch.
• Work closely with engineers and founders to define culture and code.
• Operate in a fast-paced, quality-focused environment.

Skills

Data Science

Machine Learning

AI Engineering

End-to-End Systems

Education

Master’s in AI/ML or equivalent experience

Job description

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

This range is provided by HartleyCo. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$150,000.00/yr - $200,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from HartleyCo

Headhunter | Founding Engineers & Researchers | Partner to YC & Tier 1 VC PortCo | Facilitating Growth

San Francisco | In-Office | Early-Stage AI Startup | Backed by Top Investors

Ready to build, break, and scale with serious velocity?

We’re hiring a Founding AI/ML Engineer to join a founder-led AI startup that’s in blitz mode - shipping fast, scaling faster, and solving real-world problems with applied AI. They’ve got early traction, strong product-market fit, and now it’s all about throughput. That’s where you come in.

What you’ll do:

• Build and ship AI-driven features and agentic systems from scratch
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with sharp engineers and even sharper founders
• Get your hands dirty across the stack: from pipelines and infrastructure to model orchestration
• Shape not just what gets built, but how it gets built - you'll define culture as much as code
• Operate in a culture of speed, intensity, and obsession over quality

Why this role is different:

• Ownership: You’ll have autonomy from day one - this is a true builder’s role
• Real-world impact: This isn’t a research lab. You’ll ship code that gets used - fast
• Cohort culture: Join a team of insanely driven peers who don’t blink at 5am standups
• Growth: The pace is relentless, but so is the learning. You’ll level up quickly here

You might be a fit if you:

• Have 3+ years of experience in data science, ML, or AI engineering (ex-founders welcome)
• Know how to build end-to-end systems: data pipelines, ETL, infrastructure, and ML deployment
• Have worked on AI agents, LLMs, or tools in the customer service/sales space
• Thrive in early-stage chaos and want to help build a billion-dollar company from the ground up
• Have a strong technical foundation (ideally a Master’s or equivalent experience in AI/ML-heavy projects)

If you’re ready to go full-send and build with a team that’s all-in - we want to hear from you.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Information Technology

• Industries

  IT Services and IT Consulting

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