Head of Engineering
We’re supporting a client with the recruitment requirement outlined below. If your recruiting expertise and networks align with the role, please apply to express your interest.
Once approved to work on the opportunity, you’ll receive the full brief, including the client name, role details, and commercial terms.
Role Details
Company: US-based AI technology startup
Location: New York or San Francisco
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Arrangement: Preferably based in New York or San Francisco with some remote flexibility
Salary: $170,000–$300,000
Experience: 5+ years in software engineering, including engineering team leadership
About the Company
An AI technology company building custom solutions for the built environment, including real estate, infrastructure, and asset management. Its platform helps large enterprises modernise complex workflows and systems using AI.
About the Role
The company is seeking a hands-on engineering leader to manage day-to-day engineering, guide architecture, and build a high-performing team. The role is approximately 70% hands-on coding, combining technical decision-making, team leadership, hiring, and enterprise delivery.
Responsibilities
Lead day-to-day engineering while the CTO focuses on sales and customer relationships.
Design and build backend, data, and AI systems for enterprise deployments.
Own technical strategy, architecture, vendor selection, and build-versus-buy decisions.
Work with founders, engineers, and enterprise customers to deliver successful implementations.
Lead client deployments involving complex data, ERP integrations, and legacy systems, turning custom solutions into reusable infrastructure.
Establish standards for code quality, security, testing, and observability.
Mentor engineers, manage performance and delivery, identify risks, and help grow the engineering team.
Requirements
5+ years of software engineering experience, including engineering team leadership.
Previous experience as an Engineering Manager, Tech Lead, Technical Lead Manager, or Founding CTO.
Strong hands-on coding skills in Python or TypeScript.
Experience with SQL, AWS, enterprise data platforms, and AI model APIs.
Background at a venture-backed startup or high-calibre technology company.
Ability to operate with high autonomy, navigate ambiguity, and make technical decisions.
Strong communication skills and confidence working with enterprise customers.
Interview Process
Candidate submission and initial review
Initial screening with the CEO
Technical interview with the CTO
In-person work trial with the team
Offer and hiring
🌍 Remote from anywhere in the globe
Workplace, Culture & Diversity
Corporate culture is essential to allow the organization to differentiate itself. In terms of image on the one hand, it has strengths both internally and externally to consumers. It is indeed a source of cohesion and motivation of employees and it limits conflicts. With customers, it conveys a positive image and can develop a feeling of closeness to the company or even become a criterion of choice.
About Fractal Talent
We Are Fractal Talent, a global community of freelance and fractional recruiters. We provide recruiting expertise to our clients as a virtual extension of their teams, deployed on an embedded, project or per role basis, and matched to client need. Top tier quality, unrivalled flexibility.
If you're a recruiter, come join a community that acts as your outsourced sales function. We align your skills to our clients - with the aim to enrich quality recruiters and enable a far greater flexibility in how you manage your career.