Staff AI Engineer (Generative AI) - VC Backed Startups

SignalFire; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A VC-backed company seeks a Staff AI Engineer focusing on Generative AI for startups. Ideal candidates will develop and optimize ML models, employing their strong background in Python and experience with leading AI technologies. Join SignalFire to influence high-growth, early-stage companies at the forefront of AI innovation.

Benefits

Exposure to early-stage startups

Participation in innovative projects

Access to a talent network

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in AI/ML, deep learning, or applied AI.
• Strong Python skills with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX.
• Experience with big data tools and MLOps platforms.

Responsibilities

• Developing and deploying machine learning (ML) and deep learning models.
• Building scalable data pipelines for training and inference.
• Working directly with founders to align AI strategies with product roadmaps.

Skills

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

JAX

Apache Spark

Kafka

Hadoop

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

MLflow

Kubeflow

FastAPI

SQL

NoSQL

Airflow

Job description

Staff AI Engineer (Generative AI) - VC Backed Startups

Join to apply for the Staff AI Engineer (Generative AI) - VC Backed Startups role at SignalFire

Staff AI Engineer (Generative AI) - VC Backed Startups

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Join to apply for the Staff AI Engineer (Generative AI) - VC Backed Startups role at SignalFire

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

Base pay range

$170,000.00/yr - $250,000.00/yr

Join SignalFire’s Talent Network for AI & Machine Learning Roles

At SignalFire, we partner with top early-stage startups that are shaping the future of technology. Our portfolio spans 200+ innovative companies across AI, cybersecurity, healthtech, fintech, developer tools, and enterprise SaaS.

We're looking to connect with exceptional Staff AI and Machine Learning engineers who are excited about joining high-growth startups as founding or early team members. By joining SignalFire’s Talent Network, your profile will be shared with our portfolio companies, giving you visibility into exclusive early-stage opportunities that may not be publicly listed.

This is not an application for a specific job. Instead, this is a way to get on the radar of VC-backed startups that are actively hiring AI/ML talent. If you have any questions, please direct inquiries to [e-mail].

Who Should Join?

We’re looking for AI engineers who are:

Building cutting-edge AI/ML models and deploying them in production

Excited about joining early-stage startups in transformative industries

Interested in staying connected with SignalFire’s portfolio for future opportunities

Typical roles and responsibilities may include:

• Developing and deploying machine learning (ML) and deep learning models
• Building scalable data pipelines for training and inference
• Working directly with founders to align AI strategies with product roadmaps
• Researching and implementing state-of-the-art AI methodologies
• Optimizing RAG pipelines, agent architectures, and LLM-powered systems
  
  

Common Qualifications

While each startup has its own hiring criteria, many AI engineering roles in our network look for:

• 6+ years of experience in AI/ML, deep learning, or applied AI
• Strong Python skills with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX
• Experience with big data tools (Apache Spark, Kafka, Hadoop) and MLOps platforms
• Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Startup experience or an interest in early-stage environments is a plus
  
  

Technologies You Might Work With: Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, JAX, Kubernetes, Docker, MLflow, Kubeflow, FastAPI, SQL, NoSQL, Airflow, Spark, Kafka, Hadoop, AWS (SageMaker, Lambda, S3), GCP (Vertex AI, BigQuery), Azure (ML Studio, Synapse).

What Happens Next?

• Submit your application to join SignalFire’s Talent Ecosystem.
• We review applications on an ongoing basis to identify strong candidates.
• If there’s a match, a SignalFire talent partner or a leader from one of our startups may reach out directly.
• No match yet? We’ll keep your profile on file for future AI/ML roles in our portfolio.
  
  

Compensation Range: $170K - $250K

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals

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