Founding Engineer (AI/ML) at Clera in San Francisco, CA

ABOUT THE ROLE A fast-moving, pre-seed AI recruiting marketplace is looking for a Founding Engineer (AI/ML) to own the intelligence layer of their product. You'll architect and ship recommendation systems, ranking algorithms, and LLM-powered matching that connects top talent with the right opportunities — at the very core of what the product does. This is a foundational, high-ownership role at a small, ambitious team backed by notable investors and angels from top-tier VC firms. This role is well-suited to someone who thrives in a scrappy, high-velocity startup environment, ships daily, and has something exceptional on their profile that sets them apart. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Build and own the AI/ML intelligence layer, including recommendation systems and ranking algorithms. - Develop LLM-powered matching to improve candidate–role alignment in production. - Architect and maintain production-grade data pipelines and services integrated with the core stack. - Collaborate cross-functionally to translate product goals into shipped features. - Deliver end-to-end features with full ownership, shipping to production on a daily cadence. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Must-haves (dealbreakers): - 3+ years of experience as a software engineer building and shipping end-to-end product features in production environments. - Proficiency with LLM APIs and a track record of building LLM-powered features in production. - Experience building recommendation systems, ranking algorithms, or ML-powered matching systems. Required skills & experience: - Proficiency with TypeScript and React in production applications. - Experience with Supabase, Prisma, and database design in production systems. - Experience building and maintaining production data pipelines and services. - Comfortable in fast-paced startup environments with rapid iteration and daily shipping cycles. - Proficiency with Cursor, Typesense, and trigger.dev (or comparable tools) in production-grade projects. Nice to have: - Experience with Typesense or similar search/ranking infrastructure. - Experience with trigger.dev or similar workflow automation tools in production. - Demonstrated exceptional technical achievement — top university academic record, strong open-source contributions, or notable personal/side projects. Culture fit: - Openness to collaborative, in-person hackerhouse-style working environments, including potential time in Latin America. - Willingness to work 6 days per week in a high-intensity, early-stage environment. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Salary: $130,000 – $170,000 USD per year - Visa sponsorship available - Foundational equity opportunity at a pre-seed stage company LOCATION This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, CA. The team works primarily in-person and values close collaboration. Candidates should expect a predominantly on-site presence in San Francisco, with potential travel to or time spent in Latin America for team offsites or hackerhouses.