Head of Engineering

We’re supporting a client with the recruitment requirement outlined below. If your recruiting expertise and networks align with the role, please apply to express your interest.

Once approved to work on the opportunity, you’ll receive the full brief, including the client name, role details, and commercial terms.

Role Details

Location: San Francisco, CA

Industry: AI

Salary: $350,000–$500,000

Employment: Full-time, in-office (5 days/week)

Experience: 4–10 years

Visa sponsorship: Available

About the Company

An early-stage AI company building an enterprise platform that gives businesses control over how they access and deploy AI models. Its product routes requests across 450+ open- and closed-source models and supports flexible hosting, analytics, and enterprise AI agents.

The company serves approximately 100 customers globally, ranging from startups to large enterprises, and is backed by prominent venture investors.

About the Role

The company is seeking a hands-on Head of Engineering to establish technical direction and build a high-performing engineering organization as it scales.

You’ll lead engineering across model routing, agent infrastructure, memory, skills, and optimization. Working closely with company leadership, you’ll shape architecture and product direction, hire and develop engineers, and maintain high standards for code quality, reliability, and technical execution.

Responsibilities

• Set technical direction and architecture across the AI platform, including model routing, agent infrastructure, memory, and optimization.
• Lead, hire, and develop the engineering team as the company scales.
• Establish engineering standards for code quality, reliability, and technical excellence.
• Partner with company and product leadership on roadmap decisions and complex technical challenges.
• Oversee infrastructure and product engineering.
• Remain hands-on with architecture and implementation to guide technical decisions and maintain the team's trust.

Requirements

• 4–10 years of relevant engineering experience.
• Early or founding engineering experience at a strong, high-growth AI company.
• Deep engineering fundamentals across infrastructure and product development.
• Experience building and shipping AI-native products.
• Proven ability to set technical direction, hire engineers, and raise engineering standards.
• Ability to remain hands-on while leading an engineering organization.
• Strong computer science or engineering background.
• Willingness to work in person in San Francisco five days per week.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance.
• Health, medical, and dental coverage.

Interview Process

• Intro call
• Technical interviews
• Technical exercise
• Work trial / on-site (1 day)
• References
• Offer