The RoleAI Systems Architect is the technical brain of the strike team. You design the automation and AI layer across the entire organization - evaluating build-vs-buy, setting technical standards, and architecting agent pipelines that turn manual chaos into self-running systems. You don't just build automations; you decide what gets automated, in what order, and to what standard.
This role reports directly to the Founder and operates with high autonomy.
What You'll Do- Design and own the end-to-end automation architecture across operations, guest experience, finance, and content
- Architect AI agent pipelines and multi-step workflows that replace manual processes at scale
- Evaluate build-vs-buy decisions for every tool and system in the stack
- Set technical standards, documentation norms, and quality gates for all automation work
- Build production-grade systems that handle real operational volume (not demos, not prototypes)
- Quantify ROI on every system you ship - hours saved, error rates reduced, revenue unlocked
- Mentor AI Systems Builders and Associates on architecture patterns, debugging, and shipping discipline
- Stay current on AI tooling, agent frameworks, and automation platforms - be the team's scout
What You'll Own (Outcomes & KPIs)Founder-approved outcomes:
- Automation coverage - % of identified manual processes with a shipped automation
- System uptime - production reliability of deployed automations (target: 99%+)
- ROI per build - measurable hours or dollars saved per system shipped
- Architecture debt - number of one-off hacks vs. scalable systems in the stack
Who You Are (Builder Traits)- AI fluency - you don't just use AI, you architect systems around it. You've built agent pipelines, not just chatbots.
- Ownership reflex - you see technical debt and fix it before it becomes a fire.
- Speed of execution - you ship production systems fast, but you also know when to slow down and build it right.
- Build portfolio - you can walk us through architectures you've designed that are running in production today.
- Systems thinking - you see the whole board, not just the next automation. You design for scale and maintainability.
- Teaching instinct - you make the builders around you better.
Must-Haves- 3+ years building production automation systems or AI pipelines
- Deep proficiency with at least 3 of: Zapier, n8n, Make, Python, Cursor, LangChain, CrewAI, or equivalent frameworks
- Demonstrated architecture portfolio (show us system diagrams, not just task lists)
- Experience evaluating and implementing build-vs-buy decisions
- Track record of quantifying ROI on technical work
- Comfortable with radical transparency, direct feedback, and a founder-led operating model
Nice-to-Haves- Hospitality, resort, or guest-experience operations background
- Experience with ClickUp, Airtable, or similar ops platforms at scale
- Prior startup CTO, Head of Automation, or technical co-founder experience
- Contributions to open-source automation or AI agent projects
- Remote-first work experience with async communication norms
Comp & Benefits- Base: $110,000-$135,000
- OTE: $157,000-$193,000
- Performance variable: 30% of OTE, tied to Founder-approved KPIs
- Health stipend: $400/mo
- Profit-pool participation: Yes - tiered by build output, not tenure
- Location: Hybrid (on-site deployment periods as needed in Whitwell, TN)
