Founding AI Engineer

Founding AI Engineer

Hybrid: 3 days in office/ 2 days work from home

Tempe, AZ

$130,000 - $180,000 Base Salary + Bonus

A fast-growing, tech-forward real estate and operations company is expanding its engineering organization and launching a new AI Engineering function. They’re modernizing core internal applications and building AI-enabled products that directly support business operations across multiple markets. If you enjoy working with modern tech, solving real operational challenges, and building products end-to-end, this is a great opportunity to make a visible impact.

About the Role

This team is building AI-enabled internal applications on a modern platform, leveraging GenAI and emerging technologies to improve workflows, automate manual processes, and evolve complex business systems. This is a full-stack engineering role where you’ll design, build, and ship production applications, not just prototypes.

You’ll work closely with engineering teams, business stakeholders, and platform specialists to rebuild and enhance a business-critical application using a new AI-driven architecture. Projects typically run 6–8 months and offer a chance to own development end-to-end.

What You’ll Do

• Build full-stack applications that leverage GenAI capabilities to optimize and automate business processes
• Develop APIs, backend services, and UI components using Python or Node.js/TypeScript
• Work across a modern platform stack that includes a knowledge layer, RAG tooling, and cloud infrastructure
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners in engineering, data, operations, and product to understand needs and translate them into technical solutions
• Learn and adopt new tools (including platform-specific technologies) to accelerate development
• Participate in architecture discussions, technical problem-solving, and shaping how the company uses AI internally
• Contribute to migrating a key internal application from a legacy system to a new AI-enabled platform

What They’re Looking For

• Strong full-stack engineering background (ideally 5+ years)
• Proficiency in Python and experience building backend applications
• Experience with APIs, web applications, and cloud-based development
• Exposure to GenAI, RAG concepts, or AI-enabled application development (professional or side projects)
• Familiarity with databases (SQL or NoSQL)
• Ability to work with ambiguity, learn new tools quickly, and contribute ideas
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working cross-functionally
• Ability to influence, push back respectfully, and collaborate with business stakeholders

Nice to Have

• Node.js/TypeScript
• AWS experience
• Prior exposure to RAG platforms or ontology-driven architectures
• Experience with internal business applications or workflow automation
• Palantir foundary experience / exposure

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Join a newly forming AI Engineering group with significant visibility
• Work with a modern tech stack and emerging AI tools
• Build real, production AI applications
• A supportive, learning-oriented environment with opportunities to grow
• Meaningful problems to solve across an operationally complex business