Seeking a Founding ML/AI Engineer with 4-7 years of experience to build and own the intelligence layer for an AI co-pilot platform in pilot training. Responsibilities include architecting production ML systems for multimodal data, developing AI reasoning, and shaping the ML stack. Requires deep expertise in audio ML, NLP, or speech processing and startup experience.
Key Highlights
Key Responsibilities
Technical Skills Required
Benefits & Perks
Nice to Have
Job Description
ML/AI Founding Engineer
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Mode: On-site
Location: San Francisco, CA
Compensation: $170K - $220K + Competitive Equity
Openings: 1 Vacancy
About this Role
We are looking for a Founding ML/AI Engineer with 4-7 years of experience to own the entire intelligence layer at an AI co-pilot platform for pilot training. You'll be a hands-on builder who can architect and ship production ML systems from the ground up, working with messy multimodal data (cockpit audio, avionics telemetry, ATC comms) in a safety-critical domain.
We need someone who is deeply fluent with modern AI tools, comfortable operating with high autonomy, and excited to grow into a technical leadership role as we scale from seed to Series A. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in audio ML, NLP, or speech processing and thrives in a fast-moving startup where you ship first and iterate relentlessly, and has relevant domain experience in aviation or defense technology.
Key Responsibilities
Building and refining audio intelligence pipelines
- Speaker diarization
- Speech-to-text
- Cockpit audio separation where overlapping speakers (pilot, instructor, ATC) make extraction extremely challenging
Developing ML systems for automated flight debriefs
- Maneuver detection
- Performance scoring
- Safety event classification using telemetry and audio data
Architecting the AI reasoning layer
- Synthesizing avionics data, audio, and contextual aviation knowledge into coherent debrief narratives
Building evaluation frameworks and feedback loops
- Continuously improving model accuracy against real-world CFI assessments
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Shaping the technical direction of the ML stack
- Full ownership from data ingestion through production inference
- Founding AI/ML hire with end-to-end responsibility
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $170K - $220K
- Competitive equity
- Early-stage founding equity (seed stage, with plans to raise Series A soon)
- Visa sponsorship available
Work Arrangement
- Full-time position
- On-site: 5 days per week in San Francisco, CA
Tech Stack
- Python
- PyTorch
- LLMs
- Claude/Opus
- Speech-to-Text
- Speaker Diarization
- Audio ML
- NLP
- Time-Series Analysis
- RAG
- Prompt Engineering
- AWS
- Kubernetes
- Cursor
- Claude Code
- Multimodal AI
- MLOps
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Industry
- AI
- Defense
- Education
- EdTech
- Transportation
Seniority
4–7 years of experience in production ML/AI engineering, with a focus on audio/NLP and some architectural leadership.
Requirements
Required Experience
Work Experience
- Shipped production ML systems (not research/papers)
- End-to-end systems development as well as application-layer ownership
- Worked at an early-stage startup (0-to-1 building)
- Architectural leadership experience
- Domain-specific experience in aviation
- Founding ML Engineer experience
Education
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- BS/MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
- Top CS program (Stanford, MIT, CMU, etc.)
Required SkillsHard Skills
- Deep expertise in NLP, speech, or audio ML
- Proficient with LLMs (RAG, fine-tuning, prompt engineering)
- Heavy user of AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code)
Additional Requirements
- Available to start immediately (no long notice periods)
Traits to Avoid
- Pure researcher with no production deployment experience
- Not using AI tools or resistant to AI-augmented workflows
Why Candidates Should Join?
This company builds the intelligence layer for pilot training by capturing cockpit audio and avionics data to generate automated flight debriefs. The platform is already deployed at major aviation training institutions and within the U.S. Air Force.
This is a founding ML/AI role within a small team that has already raised significant seed funding and is targeting a Series A raise this year, offering substantial equity upside and the opportunity to develop real aviation domain expertise.
You will own the entire ML stack end-to-end, including:
- Audio diarization
- Speaker separation
- Maneuver detection
- Debrief generation
Compensation includes a competitive salary and meaningful founding equity in San Francisco.
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