---
title: 'AI Engineer at Blank Metal'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ai-engineer-blank-metal-minneapolis-jnyk7kz1gayr'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# AI Engineer at Blank Metal

- **Company:** Blank Metal
- **Location:** Minneapolis, MN
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-03-24
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/blank-metal/b23c6dd3-9797-4315-b8db-78ef71fefa92

## Job description

## ABOUT BLANK METAL

Blank Metal is an AI-native engineering company that partners with enterprises to deliver production AI fast. We blend strategic insight with hands-on execution, shipping high-impact systems that turn AI initiatives into measurable business results.

We're builders, not theorists. Our team of seasoned engineers, designers, and strategists work across industries to create AI applications that actually get used and make a difference.

## THE ROLE

You're an experienced engineer who ships production AI features with confidence. You understand how to integrate LLM APIs and AI services into robust applications, architect scalable AI-powered systems, and deliver high-impact features that clients depend on.

## WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Design and implement end-to-end AI integrations: from LLM API selection to production deployment
- Architect AI-powered features that work reliably at scale
- Work independently on complex projects with minimal oversight
- Leverage LLM frameworks, vector databases, and prompt engineering to solve real problems
- Integrate cloud AI services and build custom AI tooling when needed
- Ship production-grade code that balances quality and velocity
- Collaborate with designers, product managers, and other engineers
- Contribute to technical decisions and architectural discussions
- Mentor junior engineers when needed

## WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

- Production Expertise: Proven ability to ship production AI features end-to-end
- LLM Mastery: Deep hands-on experience with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) and frameworks like LangChain
- Full-Stack Skills: Strong development across frontend (React/modern frameworks), backend (Python, Node.js, .NET), and infrastructure
- System Design: Can architect AI integrations that scale, handle errors gracefully, and provide good user experiences
- AI Tooling: Comfortable with vector databases, prompt engineering, embedding models, and emerging AI tools
- Quality Focus: You care about code quality, testing, and building systems that users can rely on
- Initiative: You identify problems, propose solutions, and drive projects to completion

## REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

- 2-5 years of professional software engineering experience
- Demonstrated production AI experience (LLM integrations, AI-powered features)
- Advanced full-stack development skills
- Experience with modern cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
- Strong backend and infrastructure development skills applied to real production systems
- Proven ability to ship complex features independently

## NICE TO HAVE

- Experience with RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems
- Familiarity with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, Chroma, etc.)
- Experience contributing to frontend features using modern frameworks when needed
- Background with API design and system integration
- Understanding of prompt engineering best practices
- Experience with deployment and DevOps practices
- Exposure to agentic AI systems

## WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE

- Build AI that ships: every project ends in a live deployment, not a slide deck
- Craft meets velocity: we obsess over quality while delivering at startup speed
- Outcome-driven model: our projects align with client success, not billable hours
- AI-native culture: you'll work with peers who deeply understand modern AI's potential and limits
- Real collaboration: open conversations, shared ownership, and space to bring your voice and creativity

## WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

In your role, you'll:

- Ship production AI features with minimal guidance
- Own the technical direction of AI integrations on your projects
- Become the go-to expert on AI architecture and tooling
- Help raise the bar for how the team approaches AI engineering
- Build a track record of high-impact, reliable AI systems
- Grow as a leader by mentoring other engineers

## EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Blank Metal is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all backgrounds and perspectives. Diversity makes our work better and our team stronger.

## About Blank Metal

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Blank Metal is an AI-native engineering partner that helps enterprises build production-ready AI products and platforms in 90 days or less, acting as an "anti-consultancy" that prioritizes outcomes over billable hours.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage)
- **Headquarters**: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Matt Johnson (CEO), Eric Johnson (CTO), Teresa Marchek (Head of Product), Elli Rader (Chief Growth Officer), Missy Bemm (Head of Partnership Operations), Jeff Hinck (Board Member), Justin Kaufenberg (Board Member)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: AI-Native Engineering Services / Technology Consulting
- **Target customers**: B2B; mid-sized companies ($500M–$1B revenue) needing outsourced AI teams, large multi-billion dollar corporations needing AI strategy and talent, and Rally Ventures portfolio companies needing rapid prototyping.
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To help companies navigate the most profound technological shift in decades by delivering production-ready enterprise AI solutions without the overhead of traditional consulting.

## Products & Services
- **Enterprise GenAI Platform**: Build and deploy AI-native applications, AI agents, and replatform legacy systems — from "cool demo" to "enterprise production."
- **AI Roadmap & ROI Model (PLAN)**: Board-ready AI strategy and ROI model to align executives and secure funding.
- **Production-Ready MVP (BUILD)**: Time-boxed MVP delivered in less than 90 days with KPIs wired in from day one.
- **Training & Governance (OWN)**: Team upskilling, bootcamps, and governance frameworks so clients can scale the win internally.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — $3.0M Seed round (June 24, 2025)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Rally Ventures, Traction Capital, Pure Play Partners (co-led seed round)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Monthly website traffic growth: +282.5%
  - LinkedIn follower growth: +7.4% monthly (1,322 followers)
  - Headcount growth: +4.0% monthly; currently 20 employees (23 according to Built In)
  - Active job postings: 12 (monthly growth +140%, quarterly +100%)
  - Client outcomes: 20% revenue lift for a national insurer, 30% productivity uplift for an enterprise workforce platform, board-adopted C-suite 2030 AI roadmap for a healthcare client

## Competitive Advantages
- **"Anti-consultancy" model**: Lean, senior teams with <5% overhead; outcomes-based contracts (not hour factories).
- **AI-native from day one**: Every workflow, process, and internal tool is built for velocity and iteration.
- **Ship speed**: Time-boxed MVPs delivered in weeks, not quarters.
- **Deep partnerships**: Expertise and partnerships with best models, APIs, and ecosystems (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.).
- **Performance Guaranteed**: Measurable ROI, not strategy decks.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling the team (12 open roles), expanding partner ecosystem (OpenAI and Anthropic Partner Lead roles), and serving diverse client sizes from startups to Fortune 500s.
- **Growth direction**: Building a place where top AI talent can explore broadly, while helping clients build, maintain, and scale AI products and tools.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Small, autonomous squads vs. sprawling org charts; "builders who want to move fast, obsess over craft, and change what’s possible for clients."
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Hybrid workspace with flexible on-site time; offices in Minneapolis, MN (HQ) and a second location in Minnesota.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI tech (OpenAI, Anthropic, PyTorch, Kubernetes, etc.); exposure to diverse clients from startups to Fortune 500s; strong emphasis on craft and impact.
- **Engineering Culture**: AI-powered, impact-obsessed; "we measure success in production." Tech stack includes Python, TypeScript, React, SQL, PyTorch, Kubernetes, Terraform, OpenAI, and more.

## Sources
1. [blankmetal.ai](https://www.blankmetal.ai/)
2. [LinkedIn - Blank Metal](https://www.linkedin.com/company/blank-metal)
3. [Built In - Blank Metal Careers](https://builtin.com/company/blank-metal)
4. [Rally Ventures - Blank Metal](https://www.rallyventures.com/blank-metal/)
5. [Twin Cities Business - New AI Firm Blank Metal Raises $3 Million](https://tcbmag.com/new-ai-firm-blank-metal-raises-3-million/)
6. [FinSMEs - Blank Metal Raises $3M in Funding](https://www.finsmes.com/2025/06/blank-metal-raises-3m-in-funding.html)

## Other roles at Blank Metal

- [Senior AI Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-ai-engineer-blank-metal-minneapolis-ekxx13k4bs0h) — Minneapolis, MN
- [Office Coordinator, Part-Time](https://feeny.ai/job/office-coordinator-part-time-blank-metal-minneapolis-vtt1vd322984) — Minneapolis, MN
- [Future opportunities at Blank Metal](https://feeny.ai/job/future-opportunities-at-blank-metal-blank-metal-minneapolis-5np2tpd2z1qm) — Minneapolis, MN
- [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/forward-deployed-engineer-blank-metal-minneapolis-qcvn4b12fcdx) — Minneapolis, MN
- [AI Product Leader](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-product-leader-blank-metal-minneapolis-nyy1eaqvqayd) — Minneapolis, MN
- [AI Workflow Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-workflow-engineer-blank-metal-minneapolis-m62c4xv4x1db) — Minneapolis, MN
- [Senior Full Stack Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-full-stack-engineer-blank-metal-minneapolis-qwbt7t1jvq44) — Minneapolis, MN
- [AI Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-engineer-baseten-san-francisco-2c7zvysvqzfx) — San Francisco, CA
- [AI Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-engineer-omni-united-states-axtmhtvjxvcv) — United States
- [AI Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-engineer-higgsfield-almaty-4kz3790yfhcn) — Almaty, Kazakhstan