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Startup Ai Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Junior AI Engineer

Lawrence, NY · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Work alongside senior engineers on AI-powered systems and integrations * Learn how to make smart ... Grow quickly by tackling a wide range of problems across the stack in a startup environment

Traversal is an AI Site Reliability Engineer for enterprises, focused on preventing complex ... startup environments, with limited resources, shifting priorities, and minimal structure. • ...

Junior AI Engineer

Lawrence, NY · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Work alongside senior engineers on AI-powered systems and integrations * Learn how to make smart ... Grow quickly by tackling a wide range of problems across the stack in a startup environment

Senior AI Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$170 - $220/hr

Senior AI Engineer New York City, NY · On-site · Full-time Compensation: $170,000-$220,000 + equity About the Company A seed-stage startup building the AI operating system for the CFO office ...

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 ...

AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180K - $250K/yr

The Role Join our team as an AI Engineer at Campfire, where you'll design and implement AI-driven ... startup environment. Let's Connect Think you're the perfect fit? We're excited to meet you! Reach ...

Staff AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250K - $350K/yr

This role is ideal for an engineer who is passionate about applied AI, eager to solve real-world challenges, and excited to build the technical foundation of an early-stage AI startup. What You'll Do

AI Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$108K - $146K/yr

About Blank Metal Blank Metal is an AI-native engineering company that partners with enterprises to ... Craft meets velocity: we obsess over quality while delivering at startup speed * Outcome-driven ...

AI Engineer - Backend

New York, NY · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

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 ...

... AI Engineers (Enterprise) to help design, build, and deploy production-grade generative AI ... Experience working within high-growth startup environments * Strong understanding of enterprise ...

AI Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

We are a rare tech startup based in central south Orange County--an area more commonly known for ... AI Engineer to join our newly formed DOGE-X team--a cutting-edge division within our Market ...

AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

Why this role Cinder is seeking an AI/ML engineer to architect and deploy production AI systems at ... Experience at a high-growth startup building machine learning infrastructure from the ground up

AI Engineer

New York, NY

$150K - $270K/yr

About This Role Twenty80 is partnering with a fast-moving technology company to find an AI Engineer ... Experience in a fast-moving startup or as a founder. Education CS undergraduate degree from a four ...

About This Role Twenty80 is partnering with a fast-moving technology company to find an AI Engineer ... Experience in a fast-moving startup or as a founder. Education CS undergraduate degree from a four ...

Senior AI Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$140 - $200/hr

Well-funded startup with a completed seed round, real customers, and a product in market. * Work at the frontier of agentic AI -- our product is the problem space everyone's talking about. * High ...

Ludo Robotics is a startup focused on building general-purpose robotic intelligence systems. As an ML/AI Engineer, you will develop scalable robotics systems, collaborating with researchers and ...

... Prior startup or founding engineer experience, balancing craft, ownership, and speed. Company : Percepta (a GC Transformation Company) combines applied AI engineering with frontier research to ...

Senior Customer AI Engineer

New York, NY · Remote

$60.50 - $78/hr

Bluefish is looking for a technically strong, customer-facing Senior Customer AI Engineer to ... Comfort working in fast-paced, startup environments with cross-functional collaboration. About ...

Senior Customer AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site +1

$60.50 - $78/hr

Bluefish is looking for a technically strong, customer-facing Senior Customer AI Engineer to ... Comfort working in fast-paced, startup environments with cross-functional collaboration. About ...

Showing results 41-60

Startup Ai Engineer information

See salary details

$25

$53

$76

How much do startup ai engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 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 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 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 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 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.
More about Startup Ai Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Startup Ai Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Startup Ai Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Startup Ai Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Startup Ai Engineer jobs include:

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 67% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,552 per year, or $53.6 per hour.

Junior AI Engineer

Maigrate LLC

Lawrence, NY • On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

About Maigrate
Maigrate builds AI-powered products for mid-market companies. We build lasting software, not one-time deliverables. We're early-stage, growing fast, and assembling the team that will define what AI-native software looks like for this market. The people who join now won't just build the product, they'll help shape how we operate and what we become.
About the Role
We don't build in a vacuum - we get deep into how our customers work, understand what's actually slowing them down, and build what actually moves the needle. Junior engineers who join now won't just execute tasks - they'll learn by doing, work directly alongside senior engineers and AI strategists, and grow fast in an environment that rewards curiosity and initiative.
If you're hungry to build real things and go deep on AI, we want to hear from you.
*This is an in-person role based out of our Lawrence, NY office.
What you'll do
  • Build and ship features across the stack, from UI to backend, on real products used by real customers
  • Work alongside senior engineers on AI-powered systems and integrations
  • Learn how to make smart tradeoffs and take ownership of your work end-to-end
  • Grow quickly by tackling a wide range of problems across the stack in a startup environment
  • Collaborate with strategists and work directly with customers to understand their needs and deliver real impact

What we're looking for
  • 1-2 years of professional or internship experience in tech or a related field - recent grads welcome
  • Genuine excitement about AI - you use it, you think about it, and you want to build with it
  • A growth mindset - you ask questions, learn fast, and aren't afraid to be a beginner
  • Startup energy - flexible, resourceful, and comfortable figuring things out as you go
  • Authorized to work in the US; able to work EST hours

Preferred
  • Experience at a startup or fast-moving team
  • You've taken a project from idea to working product, whether through code, AI tools, or a combination, and you can show it
  • Experience working directly with customers to develop custom tools or internal applications