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Founding Ai Engineer Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Tenex.Ai

Senior Security Researcher

Overland Park, KS · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

TENEX is an AI-native, automation-first, built-for-scale Managed Detection and Response (MDR ... Work with Detection Engineering, Forward Deployment, and Software Engineering to ship research ...

Human Agency

$59K - $81K/yr

Across strategy, engineering, design, data, and operations, we seek out teammates who raise the bar ... This is a founding role - you will shape the portfolio strategy, lead fundraising, and execute ...

DAMAC Digital

Project Manager

Edgerton, KS · On-site

... engineered for speed, resilience, sustainability, and long-term scalability ... We are now assembling our founding U.S. delivery team -- leaders who will shape how our data ...

Probook

Head of Talent

Manhattan, KS · On-site

$130 - $160/hr

ABOUT PROBOOK Probook is the AI Operating System for the home services industry, transforming how ... Role Description Probook is hiring a founding Head of Talent to build the recruiting engine for its ...

Artera

Manager, Revenue Accounting

Kansas City, KS · On-site

Since founding in 2015, Artera has consistently been recognized for its innovative technology ... Design and implement agentic AI solutions (e.g., Claude Code) to automate invoicing ...

All JobsFounding Ai Engineer JobsFounding Ai Engineer Jobs in Kansas

Founding Ai Engineer information

See Kansas salary details

$22

$47

$68

How much do founding ai engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for founding ai engineer in Kansas is $47.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.61 and $55.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a founding AI engineer?

A Founding AI Engineer is an early member of a startup's technical team, responsible for designing, building, and implementing artificial intelligence systems that form the core of the company's product or service. This role often involves working closely with company founders to set technical direction, make key architectural decisions, and develop scalable machine learning solutions from the ground up. Founding AI Engineers are expected to wear multiple hats, contribute to both research and engineering efforts, and help establish best practices as the company grows. They play a crucial role in shaping the company's technology culture and long-term vision.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding AI engineer?

To thrive as a Founding AI Engineer, you need deep expertise in machine learning, software engineering, and algorithm development, typically supported by an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP), and version control systems is essential, along with experience deploying AI models to production. Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and entrepreneurial mindset distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are vital for building innovative AI solutions from the ground up, shaping product direction, and driving early-stage company success.

What are some unique challenges a founding AI engineer might face in an early-stage startup environment?

As a Founding AI Engineer in a startup, you'll often be responsible for both building core AI systems and setting up foundational engineering practices. Unique challenges include balancing rapid prototyping with long-term scalability, working with limited resources, and defining the technical roadmap alongside product priorities. You'll likely collaborate closely with founders, product managers, and sometimes even customers, making adaptability and strong communication essential. This role offers significant autonomy but also requires comfort with ambiguity and frequent shifts in direction as the company grows.

What is the difference between Founding Ai Engineer vs AI Engineer?

AspectFounding Ai EngineerAI Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, AI, or related fields; experience in AI developmentBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, AI, or related fields; experience in AI development
Work EnvironmentStartup or early-stage company, often in a founding or core team roleEstablished companies, tech firms, or startups with ongoing AI projects
Employer & Industry UsageFounding AI roles are common in startups and new venturesWidely used across industries including tech, finance, healthcare, and more

The main difference is that a Founding AI Engineer is typically an early team member in a startup, often involved in shaping the company's AI strategy from the ground up, whereas an AI Engineer generally works within established organizations on ongoing AI projects. Both roles require similar technical credentials but differ in scope, environment, and level of responsibility.

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Founding Ai Engineer jobs near you

Senior/Staff Forward Deployment Engineer (Java & AI Integration, Gen AI) - Full Time Role

Saransh Inc

Overland Park, KS • On-site

$121K - $159K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Role: Senior / Staff Forward Deployment Engineer
Location/s: Bellevue, WA / Overland Park, KS / Frisco, TX (Hybrid – 4 days a week onsite) - Travel: up to 25%
Job Type: Full Time

 
Notes from the client:
  • The role is part of the founding teamand requires strong technical expertise in Python, Golang, Java (mandatory), system design, and architecture, along with proven experience in AI integration, GenAI, AI agents, and LLMs.
  • The position is customer‑facing, requiring a technical engineer with excellent soft skills who can act as a mediator between business and technical teams, serving as a hands‑on communicator. The candidate must be able to start quickly.
  • LinkedIn should match the resume of the candidate.
Interview process:
4 rounds (Prescreening/ can share phone screening document) – Live Coding – Technical/Customer focused Interview – Customer Evaluation)
 
About the Role:
Engineering  |  Senior–Staff Individual Contributor  |  Founding Team
  • We are building client's founding Forward Deployment Engineering team, and we're looking for seasoned engineers to set the bar.
  • As a Senior/Staff FDE, you sit at the intersection of engineering and the customer.
  • You embed directly with internal business teams and external partners to take powerful platforms — AI/GenAI tools, data products, and custom integrations — and turn them into working solutions that deliver real outcomes.
  • You are part builder, part problem-solver, and part trusted advisor: writing production code one day, mapping a messy real-world workflow the next, and advising senior stakeholders on strategy by the end of the week.
  • This is a high-impact role for an experienced engineer who has done the work before, thrives in ambiguity, and operates with little oversight.
  • As one of the first FDEs, you won't just deploy solutions — you'll define how this team works: the playbooks, the standards, the tooling, and the bar for everyone who follows. You'll also mentor more junior engineers as the team scales.
What You'll Do:
  • Embed with internal teams and external customers to understand their workflows, pain points, and goals — then design and deploy solutions that fit.
  • Build production-quality code, integrations, and automations across AI/GenAI, data, and software platforms to solve concrete business problems.
  • Prototype rapid prototypes and proofs-of-concept, iterate based on direct user feedback, and move them into reliable, scalable production.
  • Integrate data pipelines, APIs, and third-party systems, handling the real-world messiness of enterprise environments.
  • Partner with end users and stakeholders — running demos, gathering requirements, troubleshooting live, and translating technical concepts into business value.
  • Feed recurring pain points and friction back to product and engineering teams to influence the core roadmap.
  • Monitor and improve solutions for reliability, performance, and adoption after launch — you own outcomes, not just deliverables.
  • Establish the playbooks, standards, and tooling for the FDE function, and mentor junior engineers as the team grows.
 
What You'll Bring:
  • Experience: 8+ years building and shipping software in production, including significant time owning complex, ambiguous projects end-to-end with minimal supervision.
  • Technical depth: Deep, hands-on programming expertise (e.g., Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, or Go), strong system design judgment, and fluency working across the full stack and with APIs.
  • Platform fluency: Proven experience with data tools (SQL, pipelines, warehouses such as Snowflake/Databricks) and/or AI/GenAI tooling (LLMs, RAG, agentic workflows). You bring real breadth and adapt quickly to the right tool for the problem.
  • Customer-facing track record: A track record of customer-facing or forward-deployed work — you've shipped solutions directly with end users, navigated enterprise complexity, and earned the trust of senior stakeholders.
  • Leadership: You've led projects, set technical direction, and raised the bar for those around you — formally or informally.
  • Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication; you translate fluidly between deep technical detail and executive-level business value.
  • Bias for action: You ship, learn, and iterate quickly at a high quality bar, and you bring order to ambiguous, fast-moving situations.
 
Nice to Have:
  • Experience deploying AI/ML or LLM-based solutions in an enterprise setting.
  • Cloud experience (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and familiarity with CI/CD and containerization.
  • Experience as a founding or early member of a new team or function.
  • Telecommunications or large-scale enterprise data domain knowledge.