About the RoleJoin the founding team of an AI-first consumer startup tackling one of Gen Z's most pressing challenges: loneliness. The company organizes AI-powered small-group in-person hangouts every week, helping thousands of young people build real friendships - no app, no swiping, no ghosting. AI agents handle the entire experience end-to-end: onboarding, profiling, matching, logistics, reminders, follow-ups, and continuous learning. The team is expanding rapidly across hundreds of university campuses across the United States.
As a
Founding AI Engineer, you will be one of the earliest technical hires, working directly at the intersection of machine learning, social graph intelligence, and conversational AI agent infrastructure. This is a high-ownership, high-impact role for someone who thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
What You'll DoAI Matching & Social Graphs- Build a novel social graph grounded in real-world interaction data, processing millions of data points across a growing user base
- Design and iterate on group-matching algorithms that surface highly compatible friend groups
- Implement collaborative filtering, graph embeddings, and ranking systems to drive personalization
- Apply reinforcement learning from real-world outcomes to continuously improve match quality
- Discover patterns in social data that lead to meaningful, lasting friendships
Multi-Channel AI Agent Experiences- Design and build AI agent workflows that operate natively across channels users already use (e.g., Instagram, iMessage, WhatsApp, TikTok)
- Orchestrate a suite of specialized AI agents handling distinct stages of the user journey
- Integrate third-party messaging APIs and services into a cohesive, reliable agent infrastructure
- Build scalable backend infrastructure to support AI workloads and multi-channel agent orchestration
- Craft human-AI interaction patterns that feel natural, effortless, and trustworthy
What We're Looking ForRequired- 0-4 years of hands-on experience building AI/ML systems in production, ideally in recommender or matching domains
- Proven ability to build large-scale AI systems processing millions of data points
- Strong proficiency in collaborative filtering, graph embeddings, and ranking systems
- Experience applying reinforcement learning from real-world feedback to personalization problems
- Experience designing AI agent experiences across multiple messaging channels and handling API integrations
- Ability to architect scalable infrastructure for AI workloads and agent orchestration
- Strong cross-functional communication skills; comfortable collaborating with product, design, and data science
- Founding mindset: you ship fast, own problems end-to-end, and thrive in ambiguity
- Must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship
Nice to Have- Prior experience with social graph platforms or large-scale personalization systems
- Familiarity with multi-agent orchestration frameworks
- Background in consumer social or community-focused products
Compensation & Benefits- Salary: $150,000 - $200,000 USD per year
- Equity: Meaningful founding equity package
- Competitive benefits commensurate with an early-stage, well-resourced team
LocationThis is a fully
on-site role based in
San Francisco, California. The team works together in person. Visa sponsorship is
not available; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
