Head of Engineering

Elev8 Recruitment; New York (NY); On-site; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Elev8 Recruitment is assisting a well-backed seed-stage AI/fintech company in New York to find a Head of Engineering. You will balance writing production code with shaping the engineering org, owning architecture, and guiding product and AI strategy.

You’ll work closely with founders, hire and mentor engineers, and build systems that scale for enterprise customers across markets. This in-office NYC role offers a base of $250k–$300k with meaningful equity.

Qualifications

• 7-15 years in software engineering.
• Built and led an engineering team.
• Wrote production code recently and stayed close to technical work.
• Owned architecture and technical direction as a product scaled.
• Shipped AI/ML systems into production.
• Strong product instincts to influence what gets built.
• Experience building B2B or enterprise software.
• Background in CS/Engineering/Math/Physics.

Responsibilities

• Remain hands-on in the codebase and ship alongside the team.
• Build and scale the engineering organisation.
• Own the technical vision and architecture as the platform grows.
• Lead the company's AI engineering strategy and production AI systems.
• Work directly with the founders on product direction, UX and technical priorities.
• Set the hiring bar and recruit the next generation of engineers.
• Build systems capable of supporting demanding enterprise customers across multiple markets.

Skills

Hands-on coding

Engineering leadership

AI/ML production

Architecture direction

Product instincts

Enterprise software

Education

CS/Engineering/Math/Physics

Job description

Head of Engineering | AI / Fintech | New York

$250k-$300k base + meaningful equity

Some Head of Engineering roles are really management jobs - this one isn't.

I'm working with a well-backed Seed-stage AI/fintech company in New York that is building infrastructure to make business verification faster, more reliable and easier to scale globally.

They're looking for a Head of Engineering who has already made the transition from strong engineer to engineering leader, without leaving the engineering behind.

You’ll spend roughly half your time building and half leading.

That means writing production code, making architecture decisions and getting deep into technical problems, while also hiring the team, setting the engineering bar and working directly with the founders on product and company direction.

You’ll take responsibility for engineering as the business moves through its next stage of growth.

You’ll:

• Remain hands-on in the codebase and ship alongside the team
• Build and scale the engineering organisation
• Own the technical vision and architecture as the platform grows
• Lead the company's AI engineering strategy and production AI systems
• Work directly with the founders on product direction, UX and technical priorities
• Set the hiring bar and recruit the next generation of engineers
• Build systems capable of supporting demanding enterprise customers across multiple markets

This isn't a role for someone looking to manage engineering from a distance.

The background we’re looking for:

The strongest people for this role will have spent meaningful time in early-stage startups, ideally Seed through Series B, and know what it feels like when the product, team and architecture are all evolving at once.

You’ll likely have:

• 7-15 years in software engineering
• Built and led an engineering team, rather than simply inheriting one
• Written production code recently and still enjoy being close to the technical work
• Owned architecture and technical direction as a product scaled
• Shipped AI/ML systems into production
• Strong product instincts and the ability to influence what gets built, not just how
• Experience building B2B or enterprise software
• A Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or similarly technical background

Experience in fintech, identity, KYC/KYB, fraud, risk or another regulated environment would be highly relevant, but isn’t essential.

The Opportunity:

This is an early leadership hire in a company with strong backing, real customer traction and ambitious plans to expand internationally.

The engineering problems sit across AI, data, workflow automation, enterprise infrastructure and complex business verification.

You’ll have genuine influence over the product, architecture, engineering culture and team that gets built from here.

The remit is broad by design.

You’ll be expected to think like an engineer, product builder and company leader rather than operating inside a narrow engineering-management box.

Package:

Base: $250k-$300k

Equity: Meaningful ownership

Location: New York City

Working pattern: Strong preference for being in the office

Visa: Transfers can be considered

Who should apply?

If you've previously been a Founding Engineer, Engineering Lead, Head of Engineering, Director of Engineering or hands-on CTO, this could be particularly relevant.

Especially if your career has looked something like:

build the product hire the team lead the team keep building

If you're still happiest when you can review the architecture, write code, talk to a customer and interview an engineer in the same week, I'd like to hear from you.