Founding ML Engineer

Founding ML Engineer

Location: San Francisco, CA (In-person)

Compensation: $150K – $200K • 0.20% – 1.00% Equity

Our client is a high-growth, YC-backed startup based in San Francisco seeking a Founding ML Engineer to help redefine how engineering output is measured and optimised. This organisation is building a definitive platform that leverages modern AI to provide engineering teams with an accurate, actionable view of productivity, impact, and collaboration.

The company has secured a $4.2M seed round from top-tier investors and has demonstrated consistent double-digit month-over-month revenue growth. This role offers a rare opportunity to join at the ground floor and develop the machine learning systems that will shape how millions of engineers and leaders understand their work. The Founding ML Engineer will work directly with a CTO (MIT alum and former founding engineer) and a CEO with a proven track record of scaling startups from $0 to $30M in ARR.

Key Responsibilities

• System Architecture: Build and scale end-to-end ML systems designed to analyse and improve the workflows of software engineers.
• Process Development: Establish the internal processes and standards for model design, feature engineering, and deployment to streamline future development.
• Insight Generation: Utilise AI to surface meaningful insights regarding engineering productivity, quality, and collaboration, moving beyond traditional vanity metrics.
• Product Evolution: Partner closely with the founding team to rethink engineering output from first principles, ensuring the platform delights customers with intelligent, automated solutions.
• Full-Cycle Engineering: Manage the entire ML lifecycle, from dataset selection and feature engineering to production deployment and rapid iteration.

Interview Process

1. Introductory Call: A 15-minute initial conversation.
2. Assessment: A take-home technical assessment.
3. Technical Interview: A one-hour technical deep dive with the CTO.
4. On-site Interview: A one-hour session with the CEO, including a team lunch.
5. Work Trial: A 3-5 day paid work trial to ensure mutual alignment.

Requirements

• Proven ML Delivery: Significant experience shipping machine learning systems to production, encompassing everything from model design to deployment.
• Pragmatic Problem-Solving: The ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced startup environment, knowing when to strive for perfection and when to ship.
• Exceptional Engineering Standards: A strong technical foundation with a commitment to continuous growth and high-quality code.
• Communication & Empathy: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to understand and build for the needs of other software engineers.
• Resilience: A gritty, "formidable" approach to engineering, with the determination to push through complex technical challenges.
• Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or hold a valid US work visa.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with the current tech stack: React/TypeScript (Frontend), Go (Backend), and Python (ML).
• Prior experience or deep interest in engineering productivity and organisational health.
• A background in early-stage startups or as a founding team member.

Benefits

• Compensation: Competitive base salary of $150,000 – $200,000.
• Equity: Founding-level equity stake ranging from 0.20% – 1.00%.
• Ownership: High levels of autonomy and ownership over the ML roadmap from day one.
• Mentorship: Direct collaboration with experienced founders committed to professional growth and technical excellence.
• Location: Based in San Francisco, CA, offering a collaborative, in-person team environment.

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing [email protected].

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