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Startup Ai Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Clera

Founding AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

About the Role This is a founding engineering role at a seed-stage AI startup building the intelligence layer for the construction industry. The company's platform transforms messy blueprints ...

Tenex.AI Inc

Principal AI Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site +1

We're a fast growing startup backed by industry experts and top tier investors led by Crosspoint ... As a Principal AI Engineer at TENEX, you will be a key technical leader responsible for designing ...

Clera

Founding AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

About the Role This is a founding engineering role at a seed-stage AI startup building the intelligence layer for the construction industry. The company's platform transforms messy blueprints ...

Hilbert's AI

AI Engineer - Core

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

We're looking for an AI Engineer who can build production-grade AI systems end-to-end - from prototype to pipeline to product - with the ownership and urgency of a startup culture. This is not a ...

Fonzi

Senior AI Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$175 - $225/hr

Senior AI Engineer About Fonzi AI We're a well-funded, fast-growing startup revolutionizing hiring through AI. Recently launched, we've already attracted thousands of top engineers to our platform.

Bild AI

Founding AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

Founding AI Engineer We founded Bild AI to tackle the mess that is blueprint reading, cost ... Have built something people used/paid for (founder/startup) * Have a construction background * Are ...

Adomate

WI · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

We're looking for a Founding AI Engineer to join our team and help build the future of ad creation ... Previous startup experience * PhD in AI/ML or related field What We Offer * Competitive salary and ...

Bronco AI

Founding AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Required : • You have shipped agentic AI systems that work in the real world • Experience at an industry research lab, as a past founder, or as a founding engineer at an AI startup • Deep hands ...

AI

AI Engineer - Backend [New York]

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150 - $300/hr

About Traversal Traversal is the AI Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) for the enterprise--already ... Proven ability to lead in fast‑paced startup environments, with limited resources, shifting ...

Eightpoint Interactive, Inc.

AI Engineer

Fort Myers, FL · On-site

$110 - $160/hr

Our innovative culture thrives on collaboration, data-driven decisions, and a startup mindset. Join ... About the Role We're looking for a self-directed AI/ML Engineer to join the Mobile Group at ...

David Joseph & Company

Senior AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

AI Tools / FinTech The Role Own a finance domain end to end -- from context engineering and prompt ... Early-stage startup experience (pre-seed to Series B) * On-site in NYC, six days a week on startup ...

Soulside AI

Applied AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Applied AI Engineer Soulside AI • US On-Site • Reports to the CTO About Soulside Soulside AI is ... Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, remote startup and communicate clearly with technical and ...

Nexxa.ai

Applied AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Role Overview We're looking for Applied AI Engineers to work as forward deployed directly with ... Experience in startup or high-growth environments. What We're Looking For * A customer-obsessed ...

Logix Solutions

$130 - $170/hr

As a Founding ML/AI Engineer, you'll work closely with the founding team to develop recommendation ... Previous experience working in an early-stage startup is mandatory * Strong Computer Science ...

Tiny Health

The Opportunity We are looking for an AI Engineer to join our Product & Engineering team. You'll ... Startup or small-team experience where you've worn multiple hats. How we work * A mission that ...

Nexxa.AI

Backend AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140 - $230/hr

Experience in startup or high‑growth environments. What We're Looking For * A backend engineer who wants to build the infrastructure powering real‑world autonomous AI systems. * Someone who can ...

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Startup Ai Engineer information

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$25

$53

$76

How much do startup ai engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for startup ai engineer in the United States is $53.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.27 and $62.26 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a startup AI engineer?

Startup AI Engineers are technology professionals who design, develop, and implement artificial intelligence solutions within startup companies. They often work in fast-paced environments, building prototypes, training machine learning models, and deploying AI-powered features to help startups gain a competitive edge. Their role can be broad, covering data analysis, algorithm development, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Unlike traditional AI engineers, those at startups may need to wear multiple hats and adapt quickly to changing priorities. A strong foundation in programming, machine learning, and problem-solving is essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a startup AI engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Startup AI Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science, mathematics, and machine learning, usually supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python), deep learning frameworks (like TensorFlow or PyTorch), and cloud platforms is crucial, as are certifications in AI or data science. Creative problem-solving, adaptability, and strong communication skills are important soft skills for collaborating in a fast-paced, evolving environment. These competencies enable rapid prototyping, innovative solution development, and effective teamwork, which are vital for success in a startup setting.

What unique challenges can I expect when working as a startup AI engineer compared to larger companies?

As an AI Engineer in a startup environment, you’ll likely face the challenge of wearing multiple hats and adapting quickly to evolving project needs. Unlike larger organizations with specialized teams, you may be responsible for the entire AI pipeline—from data collection and cleaning, to model deployment and monitoring. Resource constraints can require creative problem-solving and a hands-on approach, but this also means you’ll have greater autonomy and the chance to make a significant impact. Startups often foster close-knit, collaborative teams where your ideas can directly shape the product and business strategy.

What is the difference between Startup Ai Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectStartup Ai EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS, AI, or related fields; experience with ML frameworksBachelor's or Master's in CS, Statistics, or related fields; proficiency in data analysis
Work EnvironmentFast-paced startup setting, often cross-functionalVaried environments, including corporate, research, or startups
Employer & Industry UsageTech startups, AI-focused companiesWide range of industries including tech, finance, healthcare
Common Search & Comparison IntentYesYes

The Startup Ai Engineer and Data Scientist roles share similar educational backgrounds and work environments, especially in tech-focused companies. However, Startup Ai Engineers focus more on developing AI models and integrating AI solutions into products, while Data Scientists analyze data to generate insights. Both roles are crucial in AI-driven industries, but their core responsibilities differ slightly.

What is the salary of a startup AI engineer?

The salary of a startup AI engineer typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the company's funding stage. Early-stage startups may offer lower base salaries but often include equity or stock options as part of the compensation package.
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Startup Ai Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Startup Ai Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 66% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 30% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,552 per year, or $53.6 per hour.

Founding AI Engineer

Clera

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

About the Role
This is a founding engineering role at a seed-stage AI startup building the intelligence layer for the construction industry. The company's platform transforms messy blueprints, permits, and construction documents into actionable insights - accelerating cost estimation and permitting workflows that directly impact housing, hospitals, and schools.
As a Founding AI Engineer, you'll be one of the earliest technical hires, working hands-on with state-of-the-art computer vision, LLMs, and multimodal AI to prototype and ship production systems on real-world, noisy construction documents. The focus is squarely on the intelligence layer - modeling, data pipelines, and inference - not the application UI.
This is a full-time, in-office role based in San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be based in SF or willing to relocate. US work authorization is required; visa sponsorship is not available.
What You'll Do
  • Apply state-of-the-art computer vision, LLM, and multimodal AI techniques to real-world construction documents (blueprints, schedules, specs).
  • Rapidly prototype models and iterate based on user feedback and real production data.
  • Build and deploy end-to-end AI systems that operate reliably on noisy, heterogeneous inputs.
  • Own the intelligence layer: modeling, data pipelines, and inference infrastructure.
  • Collaborate closely with product and users to surface and prioritize high-impact problems.
  • Embrace practical engineering work - data labeling, ETL, deployment - as part of a small, high-trust team.
  • Communicate progress, tradeoffs, and results clearly and empathetically across the team.
What We're Looking For
Must-haves:
  • Demonstrated experience applying computer vision and/or multimodal AI in production - on real-world, messy data (documents, images, mixed modalities).
  • 0-to-1 builder mindset: you've launched an AI system into production or built the core of a new product from scratch.
  • Hands-on experience with LLMs and modern CV/multimodal model tooling and techniques.
  • Comfort iterating quickly and improving prototypes directly from user feedback.
  • Strong communication skills - honest, empathetic, and transparent with teammates and stakeholders.
  • Willingness to handle the full spectrum of startup engineering tasks (no task is too small).
  • Based in San Francisco or willing to relocate; US work authorization required.

Nice-to-haves:
  • Experience building something that shipped to real users or paying customers.
  • Background or domain knowledge in construction, AEC (architecture/engineering/construction), or related industries.
  • Experience at an early-stage startup or founding team environment.

All experience levels are welcome, including recent graduates with strong production ML portfolios.
Compensation & Benefits
  • Salary: $120,000 - $180,000 per year, depending on experience
  • Equity participation as a founding team member
  • Opportunity to shape the technical direction of an AI product from the ground up
Location
  • San Francisco, CA - full-time in-office
  • Relocation-ready candidates strongly encouraged to apply
  • US work authorization required; visa sponsorship is not available

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