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Founding Ai Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

As our founding FDE, youll also help define the function itself: how we scope engagements ... AI has also changed what counts as hard.0 Things that once required a traditional software ...

Manufacturing Engineer

Waunakee, WI · On-site

$69K - $85K/yr

AI-supported decision making Build functional knowledge of company processes, products, and ... founding in 1941. We are uniquely positioned as a global player with a dedicated research and ...

Founding Ai Engineer information

See Madison, WI salary details

$25

$54

$77

How much do founding ai engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for founding ai engineer in Madison, WI is $54.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.61 and $62.74 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.

What job categories do people searching Founding Ai Engineer jobs in Madison, WI look for?

The top searched job categories for Founding Ai Engineer jobs in Madison, WI are:

What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Founding Ai Engineer jobs?

Cities near Madison, WI with the most Founding Ai Engineer job openings:

Founding Forward Deployed Engineer

Madison, WI • On-site

Carex Consulting Group
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 11 - 50 employees

$120 - $180/hr

Other

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Carex is partnering with a fintech startup partner to identify a founding Forward Deployed Engineer for a hybrid role based in Madison, WI (3 days per week onsite).

This individual will work directly with customers to understand complex operational challenges and rapidly design, build, configure, and deploy solutions using modern AI-powered platforms, workflows, automations, and agentic development tools. The ideal candidate combines strong problem-solving and communication skills with a builder mindset, taking ownership from discovery through deployment, measurement, and ongoing support. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys working directly with customers, and is passionate about leveraging AI and emerging technologies to deliver meaningful business outcomes. Candidates with engineering or implementation experience working with Epic Agent Factory are especially encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do
  • Partner directly with customers to understand business processes, uncover challenges, and identify opportunities to create measurable value.
  • Design, configure, build, deploy, and support solutions using AI-powered platforms, workflows, automations, and agent skills.
  • Develop and customize workflows, agent capabilities, document schemas, and operational processes to address customer needs.
  • Utilize modern agentic development tools to create integrations, prototypes, automations, and lightweight applications.
  • Make targeted product enhancements that unlock meaningful value for customers.
  • Define success metrics before implementation and measure outcomes after deployment.
  • Monitor deployed solutions, troubleshoot issues, and continuously improve reliability and performance.
  • Translate recurring customer needs into scalable, reusable solutions and best practices.
  • Provide actionable feedback to product and engineering teams based on customer interactions and field observations.
  • Support internal teams by developing tools and automations that improve operational efficiency.
  • Help establish the playbooks, standards, and operating processes for a growing Forward Deployed Engineering function.
  • Build trusted relationships with customers and serve as a strategic problem-solving partner.
What You'll Bring
  • Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to translate ambiguous business challenges into practical technical solutions.
  • Strong ownership mentality, self-direction, and comfort operating without a predefined playbook.
  • Experience leveraging AI agents and agentic development tools in day-to-day work.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly learn new systems, technologies, and workflows.
  • Experience building automations, integrations, internal tools, or customer-facing solutions.
  • Ability to evaluate outcomes and clearly communicate business value.
  • Professionalism and confidence working directly with customers.
  • Pragmatic decision-making skills, including knowing when to configure, automate, build, or simplify.
  • Clear, honest, and proactive communication style.
  • Experience in solutions engineering, implementation, technical consulting, product, operations, accounting technology, customer success, or a related field.
  • Experience with engineering, implementation, or deployment of Epic Agent Factorysolutions strongly preferred.
  • Formal software engineering experience is not required; success in rapidly learning, building, and delivering solutions is more important than a traditional engineering background.
  • Ability to work in a hybrid environment with three days per week onsite in Madison, WI.

Carex Consulting Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.

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