Lead AI Engineer at Arbor
Shape the Future of Construction Through AI Innovation
At 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 Opportunity
We'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 Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Innovation
Architect and implement groundbreaking AI systems that will automate complex workflows across our marketplacePioneer new approaches to RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) that can effectively handle domain-specific construction and materials knowledgeDesign and deploy sophisticated AI agents capable of understanding and acting on complex construction industry requirementsCreate 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 suppliersDevelop intelligent pricing algorithms that account for market dynamics, supply chain constraints, and regional variationsCreate sophisticated recommendation systems that understand the intricate relationships between different building materials and project requirementsImplement 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 upEstablish best practices and technical standards for AI developmentCreate a culture of innovation and technical excellenceMentor and grow junior AI engineers into technical leadersWhat Sets You Apart
Technical Excellence
Deep expertise in large language models and their real-world applicationsProven track record of building production-grade AI systems that deliver business valueStrong foundation in machine learning fundamentals and modern AI architecturesExpertise with vector databases, embedding systems, and efficient retrieval mechanismsLeadership & Vision
Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business valueTrack record of leading technical teams and driving innovationStrong product intuition and ability to identify high-impact AI applicationsExperience scaling AI systems from prototype to productionThe Ideal Candidate Has
5 years of hands-on experience building and deploying AI systems at scaleDeep understanding of modern LLM frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, etc.)Expertise in Python and production ML frameworksExperience 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 startupShape the technical direction of a company that's revolutionizing a massive industryWork directly with senior leadership to define our AI strategy and roadmapCompensation & Benefits
Competitive base salary with significant equity ownershipComprehensive health, dental, and vision coverageFlexible PTO policy and remote-friendly work environmentProfessional development budget for conferences and trainingTechnology & Tools
Work with the latest AI models and technologiesAccess to cutting-edge compute resources and toolsFreedom 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.
