Head of Engineering @ AI-powered Personal Growth Startup
$190k - $240k USD
Role: Head of Engineering
Location: Venice Beach, CA (Remote friendly for exceptional candidates)
Salary/Compensation: $190-240k + equity
About our client:
Our client believes everyone deserves to thrive. They are democratizing what's traditionally been available only to the privileged few: a personal mentor invested in your growth and available whenever you need them.
They combine state-of-the-art AI with cognitive science, powered by proprietary memory technology that truly gets to know you. They help people process daily thoughts, recognize patterns, set meaningful goals, and guide personal growth through tailored content—all while supporting users through daily challenges and triumphs.
Having just crossed $1.5M ARR, they are at an inflection point ready for exponential growth. They are a passionate team of 11 looking to bring on mission-driven people who value personal growth and excellence in craft.
Position Overview:
Our client is seeking a Head of Engineering to lead their engineering team and own the technical execution of their product vision. You’ll take over the most senior engineering role from their founding CTO, allowing him to focus on high-leverage creative work and long-term technical strategy.
This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll architect complex systems, mentor engineers, and ensure they ship high-quality features that delight users. You’ll work closely with their founders to translate product vision into scalable technical solutions..
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Leadership
Lead a team of 4–6 engineers and own day-to-day technical execution
Architect scalable systems for AI-powered personal growth features
Make critical technical decisions on technology stack, architecture, and implementation approaches
Establish engineering best practices, code review standards, and development processes
Hands-On Development
Build and optimize React Native mobile apps, React web applications, and TypeScript backend services
Architect scalable systems using Postgres, Firestore, and modern cloud infrastructure
Implement robust CI/CD pipelines and deployment processes on Vercel and similar platforms
Debug complex issues across the full stack and ensure system reliability
Prototype new technical approaches and validate technical feasibility
Product & Engineering Bridge
Collaborate closely with founders to translate creative vision into technical roadmaps
Break down complex product initiatives into executable engineering tasks
Estimate effort, identify technical risks, and communicate trade-offs to leadership
Ensure engineering execution aligns with product goals and user needs
Team Development
Mentor and grow junior and mid-level engineers on the team
Lead technical design reviews and architecture discussions
Foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning
Guide hiring decisions for future engineering roles
Qualifications:
Technical Excellence
10+ years software engineering experience with 5+ years in senior/lead roles
Expert-level TypeScript and React/React Native experience
Strong background in full-stack development with React, Node.js, and mobile apps
Experience with modern deployment platforms (Vercel, CI/CD pipelines)
Database experience with both SQL (Postgres) and NoSQL (Firestore) systems
Experience with state management libraries (Zustand, Redux, or similar)
AI/ML systems integration and LLM API experience
Leadership Experience
Proven track record leading engineering teams of 3+ people
Experience mentoring engineers and driving technical decision-making
Ability to balance technical debt, feature development, and system reliability
Strong communication skills for collaborating with non-technical stakeholders
Startup DNA
Experience at high-growth startups, ideally post-seed/Series A stage
Comfortable with ambiguity and rapidly changing priorities
Bias toward shipping and iterating rather than over-engineering
Understanding of how engineering decisions impact user experience and business metrics
Product Sense
Experience building consumer-facing products with high engagement requirements
Understanding of how technical architecture impacts user experience
Ability to make pragmatic technical decisions that balance speed, quality, and scalability
Interest in AI applications and human-computer interaction
Bonus Points
Experience with AI/ML applications in consumer products
Background building real-time messaging or conversation systems
Previous experience as a founding engineer or early technical hire
Interest in psychology, personal development, or wellness tech
Open source contributions or technical blog writing
What they offer:
Leadership & Impact
Own the technical direction of a fast-growing AI product used by 50K+ people
Work directly with founders in shaping the future of AI-powered personal growth
Build and lead a world-class engineering team from the ground up
High autonomy and ownership over technical decisions
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary: $190k – $240k based on experience
Significant equity package with high upside potential
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
Latest equipment and home office setup
Professional development budget and conference attendance
Culture & Growth
Culture that thrives on self-discovery, introspection, and personal growth
Work with a passionate team that lives the values they are building for
Opportunity to shape engineering culture and practices from early stage
Direct mentorship from founding CTO on complex technical challenges
Location
Venice Beach office with flexible remote options
Open to candidates in US time zones (Remote friendly)