Lead Machine Learning Engineer

Lead AI Engineer at ArborShape the Future of Construction Through AI InnovationAt Arbor, we're not just another AI startup - we're America's leading B2B marketplace for building materials and home improvement supplies, headquartered in the heart of Palo Alto. Our mission? To revolutionize a $1T+ industry through cutting-edge AI that empowers contractors, builders, and suppliers to work smarter, not harder.The OpportunityWe're seeking an exceptional AI leader who will spearhead our artificial intelligence initiatives and shape the future of how the construction industry operates. As our Lead AI Engineer, you'll have unprecedented autonomy to build transformative AI systems from the ground up - from intelligent workflow automation to sophisticated customer support systems.This isn't just about implementing existing solutions; it's about pioneering new approaches that will define the next generation of AI applications in the construction industry. You'll be joining at a pivotal moment where your decisions and innovations will have lasting impact on both our company and the industry at large.What Makes This Role Unique- **True Ownership**: As an early-stage startup, you'll own the entire AI strategy and implementation. No bureaucracy, no legacy systems - just pure innovation.- **Real-World Impact**: Your AI solutions will directly influence how billions of dollars of construction materials are sourced, purchased, and delivered across America.- **Greenfield Development**: Build everything from scratch using the latest AI technologies, without being constrained by legacy systems or technical debt.- **Industry Leadership**: Position yourself at the forefront of applying large language models to transform traditional industries.Core ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & Innovation- Architect and implement groundbreaking AI systems that will automate complex workflows across our marketplace- Pioneer new approaches to RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) that can effectively handle domain-specific construction and materials knowledge- Design and deploy sophisticated AI agents capable of understanding and acting on complex construction industry requirements- Create intelligent systems that can process and understand technical specifications, building codes, and material requirementsProduct Development & Integration- Build AI-powered features that deliver measurable value to contractors and suppliers- Develop intelligent pricing algorithms that account for market dynamics, supply chain constraints, and regional variations- Create sophisticated recommendation systems that understand the intricate relationships between different building materials and project requirements- Implement AI-driven quality control systems to ensure data accuracy and consistency across our marketplaceTeam & Organization Building- Build and lead a world-class AI team from the ground up- Establish best practices and technical standards for AI development- Create a culture of innovation and technical excellence- Mentor and grow junior AI engineers into technical leadersWhat Sets You ApartTechnical Excellence- Deep expertise in large language models and their real-world applications- Proven track record of building production-grade AI systems that deliver business value- Strong foundation in machine learning fundamentals and modern AI architectures- Expertise with vector databases, embedding systems, and efficient retrieval mechanismsLeadership & Vision- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business value- Track record of leading technical teams and driving innovation- Strong product intuition and ability to identify high-impact AI applications- Experience scaling AI systems from prototype to productionThe Ideal Candidate Has- 5+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying AI systems at scale- Deep understanding of modern LLM frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, etc.)- Expertise in Python and production ML frameworks- Experience with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, etc.)- Strong background in MLOps and production AI system deploymentWhy Arbor?Impact & Growth- Join as one of the first 10 employees at a rapidly growing startup- Shape the technical direction of a company that's revolutionizing a massive industry- Work directly with senior leadership to define our AI strategy and roadmapCompensation & Benefits- Competitive base salary with significant equity ownership- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage- Flexible PTO policy and remote-friendly work environment- Professional development budget for conferences and trainingTechnology & Tools- Work with the latest AI models and technologies- Access to cutting-edge compute resources and tools- Freedom to choose and implement the best tools for the jobJoin us in building the future of construction through AI innovation. If you're excited about applying cutting-edge AI to transform traditional industries and want to lead from the front, we want to talk to you.

Created: 2025-02-23