Platform Lead (AI)

TL;DR

Platform Lead (AI): Own the technical direction of search infrastructure and AI platform with an accent on scalability, reliability, and shared primitives. Focus on designing abstractions for workflow infrastructure, ensuring quality of shared systems, and driving engineering best practices across teams.

Location: Hybrid in San Mateo, CA

Salary: $235K – $260K • Offers Equity

Company

Fast-growing edtech startup backed by leading investors, partnering with top universities like Cornell, Columbia, UVA, and Ohio State to support over 1 million students across 7 countries.

What you will do

• Own search and AI platform, from end-user features like search and AI Analytics to internal systems for AI-powered capabilities.
• Design and evolve shared primitives including workflow infrastructure and AI systems used across engineering.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and clear patterns in shared systems with broad impact.
• Partner on technical prioritization with product leadership.
• Drive engineering excellence through best practices, mentoring, and code quality.

Requirements

• 8+ years of backend engineering experience operating at scale as a technical lead.
• Expertise building scalable AI platforms for product teams.
• Experience designing and maintaining ElasticSearch-powered search platforms at scale.
• Expertise in observable, testable systems, asynchronous/event-based architectures, and strong API design.
• Strong ownership, communication skills, and commitment to mentoring.

Nice to have

• Experience with multi-tenant architecture.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible, outcome-driven culture with trust and autonomy.
• Competitive salary, meaningful equity.
• Health insurance (99% premium covered for you, 75% for dependents), 401(k), commuter benefits.
• Annual international retreats.