Head of Engineering

The Opportunity -

We are seeking an experienced Lead Engineer to serve as our technical architect and engineering leader. This individual will design the architecture of our next-generation AI platform, guide our migration from existing systems, build early core services, and lead a small team of engineers as we scale our AI-enabled venture studio to thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide.

You will be the principal technical architect of our multi-model AI platform and the technical decision-maker across Frontend, Backend, and AI Orchestration layers. This role begins with hands-on technical contributions to establish foundational patterns and services., It then evolves into a strategic leadership position, including leadership on technical team hiring and team guidance as we scale.

This is a role for someone who wants to shape the technical foundation of a system that will democratize entrepreneurship globally, while growing into a Head of Engineering position as the team scales.

About Us -

Builders Backers has radically reimagined entrepreneurship. We operate the world's first AI-enabled venture studio for entrepreneurship education, combining conversational AI, data-driven behavioral insights, and proven venture creation methods. Our mission is to democratize access to entrepreneurial resources to create the new onramp to entrepreneurship for everyday innovators—anyone, anywhere, anytime. AI powered, expert guided.

Key Responsibilities -

Platform Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Design the end-to-end system architecture for our custom platform, leveraging modern technologies such as a React/Next.js frontend, Python/Node backend, PostgreSQL, and vector databases
• Architect the multi-model AI abstraction and orchestration layer, including model routing, provider integrations, and cost optimization strategies
• Define API contracts, data schemas, integration patterns, and architectural standards that enable rapid development while maintaining quality
• Lead the design of a multi-tenant AI platform capable of serving thousands of users simultaneously and securely
• Make thoughtful build-vs-buy decisions that balance speed, scalability, cost, and long-term flexibility
• Establish engineering practices, code quality standards, observability and monitoring frameworks, and technical documentation that scale with the team

Technical Leadership & Team Development

• Translate product requirements into technical specifications and development tasks
• Conduct code reviews and provide technical guidance to ensure quality and consistency
• Build the first core services to establish foundational patterns, including the retrieval layer, APIs, workspace infrastructure, and system backbone
• Implement data pipelines, storage strategies, and hybrid architectures supporting AI/ML capabilities to set technical direction
• Integrate OpenAI, Gemini, and other LLMs early on, designing intelligent routing, prompt pipelines, and model-selection frameworks
• Foster a culture of learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement
• Partner closely with product leadership to shape user experience and feature priorities
• Make critical technical decisions with input from the team, but ultimate accountability
• Hire, lead and mentor a small team of engineers (mix of mid-career and junior developers)

Strategic Technical Execution

• Oversee agency knowledge transfer and comprehensively document current system constraints
• Design migration paths from existing systems to new platform architecture
• Own cloud infrastructure strategy (AWS, GCP, or Azure), including security, monitoring, and deployment
• Implement initial platform features while establishing patterns for the team to follow
• Drive cross-functional collaboration between technical, product, operations, and business teams
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear insights for non-technical stakeholders

Required Qualifications -

Experience & Background

• 10 years of software engineering experience with demonstrated ownership of system architecture
• Production experience building LLM-powered applications or AI/ML platforms (timeline flexibility for exceptional candidates with strong transferable experience)
• Proven track record of technical leadership: mentoring engineers, making architectural decisions, and driving projects to completion
• Experience with modern cloud-native or multi-tenant SaaS architectures

Technical Depth

• Strong systems design thinking: ability to architect scalable, maintainable systems from the ground up
• Deep expertise in ONE modern backend stack (Python/FastAPI, Node.js/Next.js, or similar)
• Familiarity with frontend frameworks (React, Next.js, or equivalent) and ability to guide frontend architecture decisions
• Solid database fundamentals: designing schemas, optimizing queries, understanding trade-offs across SQL and NoSQL (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB)
• Understanding of API design, authentication, security, and deployment practices

AI/ML Platform Knowledge

• Hands-on experience integrating LLM APIs into production applications
• Understanding of prompt engineering, context management, and AI application patterns
• Awareness of AI orchestration concepts (abstraction layers, model routing, RAG, embeddings, etc.)
• Multi-model deployment experience strongly preferred

Leadership & Communication

• Proven ability to lead small engineering teams (2-5 people) through technical delivery
• Excellence in translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information in fast-moving environments
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ideal Candidate Will Also Have -

• Experience with vector databases (Pinecone, pgvector, Chroma) or strong interest in learning
• Track record migrating or modernizing legacy systems with structured knowledge transfer
• Prior experience building engineering culture and processes from early stages
• Background in rapid prototyping and iterative development in AI/LLM environments
• Familiarity with cost optimization strategies across multiple AI model providers
• Understanding of design systems and frontend architectural patterns
• Strong ability to tell the "story" of the technology — aligning architectural decisions with business strategy and communicating them to stakeholders
• An entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable with ambiguity, creative problem-solving, and building structure within rapidly evolving environments
• Exposure to entrepreneurship ecosystems (venture studios, accelerators, innovation programs)
• Passion for democratizing entrepreneurship and building tools that empower thousands of everyday innovators

Compensation -

Competitive salary and equity package commensurate with experience and stage

What We Offer -

A rare opportunity to architect a category-defining platform at the intersection of AI and entrepreneurship. As our Lead Engineer, you'll shape technical strategy, build an engineering culture from its foundation, collaborate with visionary founders, and work with cutting-edge AI technologies while directly impacting thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide.

We offer:

• High-impact role in a values-driven organization where your work shapes the success of everyday innovators
• Competitive compensation and meaningful equity reflecting your foundational contribution
• Remote-friendly work environment with occasional travel for team collaboration
• Access to a global network of entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders
• Support for professional development, conferences, and thought leadership opportunities
• Resources and autonomy to build an industry-leading platform and team

Culture and Values -

We believe in human-AI synergy, where technology amplifies rather than replaces human potential. Our work is driven by a deep commitment to expanding access to entrepreneurship and building tools that make venture creation possible for anyone, anywhere.

Our Core Principles -

Pursue Excellence, Always, In Everything

Action Is Our First Instinct

We are Empowered and Empower Others

Truth Serves Better Than Comfort

We Remember the Rookie Feeling

Location -

Washington DC region, with remote-friendly structure and occasional travel for team meetings and key events. We value in-person collaboration during critical architecture and planning phases.

How to Apply -

Please apply via buildersandbackers.com/careers with:

Resume highlighting relevant technical leadership and AI/ML experience

Brief cover letter (3-4 paragraphs) addressing:

Your approach to architecting AI-powered platforms

An example of a technical decision you made that had significant impact

Why you're interested in democratizing entrepreneurship through technology

Builders Backers is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.