Founding AI Systems Engineer

About Us

Since 2013, we've been building a CRM that gets out of the way and helps teams sell more, faster. No manual data entry, just communication-first sales software designed to help SMBs succeed and scale.

We're bootstrapped and profitable - that means we answer to our customers and play by our rules. We're proud of our ~100 person, 100% remote team focused on building Close so that no small, scaling business fails because it can't figure out sales.

About The Role

Close’s internal systems are about to get rebuilt around AI. The data pipelines, GTM tooling, and business logic that keeps our $50m company running will be entirely rethought and refined. We’re looking for our first Founding AI Systems Engineer to own it.

This is a greenfield opportunity to define how a fast-moving B2B SaaS company operates in the age of AI. You’ll have the high visibility, real ownership, and a direct line to founders.

You are

• A builder who moves fast and thinks in systems. You see a broken GTM workflow and immediately have three ways to fix it. You don’t wait to be handed a solution, you talk to the people who are frustrated, figure out what they actually need, and build it.
• Technically full-stack. Python backend, TypeScript or JS frontend. You've used AI tools enough to have opinions and know what it takes to use AI to compound your leverage. You're comfortable picking up new infrastructure and data tools when the problem calls for it.
• Someone who gets how businesses run. You understand what GTM teams are trying to do, why lead scoring matters, what good attribution looks like. The business problem underneath the technical one is the part that fires you up.
• Able to build trust fast. You’ll work across the whole org - Marketing, Sales, Engineering, Leadership. Low ego and genuine curiosity are how things get done at Close.
  
  

You will

• Build AI-powered internal tools from scratch. Lead scoring models. Slack bots that answer business questions against live data. Agents that generate business reviews and surface insights without a human analyst pulling the report. Things we haven’t even thought of yet.

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• Ship automation that actually gets used. Sales and Marketing have workflows that are far slower than they should be. You’ll find the bottlenecks, scope the fix, and build it.
• Work across our GTM stack (Segment, Customer.io, Close, the data warehouse) You’ll make connections clean and well-documented as you build on top of them.
• Build experimentation and growth infrastructure so the team can run tests, measure impact, and scale acquisition without engineering bottlenecks.
• Define what this function looks like at Close - there’s no playbook. You’ll figure out where engineering leverage is highest and turn that into a roadmap nobody handed you.
• Located in the US (ET, CT, MT, PT)
  
  

Benefits

• Competitive compensation including an organization-wide goal-based bonus
• Paid Time Off: 5 Weeks PTO upon joining + Winter Holiday Break. Each year with the company, you’ll receive 2 extra PTO days.
• Paid Parental Leave for primary and secondary caregivers
• Sabbatical: After 5 years with the team, you’re eligible for a 1 month paid sabbatical
• Healthcare (US residents): Medical, Dental, Vision with HSA option (US residents), Dependent care FSA (US residents)
• 401k (US residents): We match 6% contributions with immediate vesting
  
  

Our Values

Build a house you want to live in - Examine long-term thinking and action

No BS - Practice transparency and honesty, especially when it’s hard

Invest in each other - Build successful relationships with your coworkers and customers

Discipline equals freedom - Keep your word to yourself and others

Strive for greatness - Constantly challenge yourself and others

Learn More

Listen to our CEO and Founder, Steli Efti, tell the story of Close’s journey in the $0-30m Blueprint.

Watch our culture video from our 2023 team retreat in Milan. Every year our entire team gathers in person to build connection, foster cross-functional collaboration, and have fun. In 2026, we’re headed to Barcelona, Spain!

Explore our product. Check out a demo!

Our Hiring Process

We ask a few role-specific questions as part of our application process. These questions are designed to help us learn more about you from the start so please answer each question thoughtfully. We see this as an opportunity to get to know you beyond your resume.

While we are excited by all the opportunities that generative AI has unlocked, we request that you refrain from relying exclusively on AI tools when completing an application, unless explicitly stated. Every application is read closely by humans and any obviously AI generated applications will be disregarded.

Regardless of fit, you can expect to hear back from our team with an update on the status of your candidacy.

If you progress to the interview process, you’ll receive a full outline of the role-specific interview process in your first touchpoint with us. We do our best to make the hiring process clear and human.

Compensation Range: $140K - $210K