Automat, Inc.

Applied AI Engineer at Automat, Inc. (San Francisco, CA)

Automat, Inc.· San Francisco, CA· $175k–$220k·

Role details

Salary
$175k–$220k
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full-Time

Job description

Who are the people that make up Automat?

Automat was founded by a diverse group of creative technologists from teams like Google Creative Lab and Samsung’s Innovation Think Tank. We're building a future where intelligent agents run real business operations, not just support them. Automat Workforce puts AI coworkers directly inside a company's existing tools to handle day-to-day operational work, and our Studio platform gives customers a fully managed way to build, deploy, and monitor their own agents and automations.

We encourage anyone to apply - while this is a senior position we think talent, passion and your unique perspective can outweigh years of experience. We are really looking for someone who can hit the ground running on day one and contribute at a rapid pace, while also being someone from whom we ourselves can learn from.

The Role

We're looking for an Applied AI Engineer who thrives at the intersection of product, engineering, and research. In this role, you'll collaborate closely with forward-deployed engineers and end users, developing innovative tools for both internal teams and external customers. You will actively shape technical solutions, influence strategic direction, and contribute meaningfully to our culture.

What You'll Do:

  • Collaborate with product and engineering to deeply understand customer challenges
  • Research and deploy real-world applications of cutting-edge AI models
  • Design and implement impactful solutions across internal tools and customer-facing products
  • Influence our engineering practices, shape product direction, and contribute to company culture

What drives you

  • Curiosity, creativity, and a drive to rapidly learn and adapt
  • Building full-stack apps that bring AI to life
  • Staying on top of the latest in AI and LLM prompting techniques
  • Pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI agents
  • Working in fast-moving, collaborative teams

What’s in your toolbox

  • Strong understanding of ML & AI best practices
  • Proficiency in Python and Typescript
  • Experience working with LLM APIs (e.g. OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, etc.)
  • Knowledge of LLM frameworks like Vercel AI SDK
  • Experience building with frameworks like Next.js and working with REST APIs
  • Familiarity with “computer-use” models (e.g., Operator, Computer Use, Browser Use)
  • Experience using AI tools effectively (e.g. Cursor, Windsurf, lovable, etc.)

What we are looking for

  • Ability to rapidly prototype and iterate on ideas
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills
  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity and wearing multiple hats
  • Passion for creating intuitive, user-friendly experiences
  • A proactive mindset and a bias toward action
  • Experience in startups or other dynamic, high-growth settingsExperience in startups or other dynamic, high-growth settings
  • 3-6+ years of experience working as an IC collaborative teams

Why work at Automat, Inc.

  • Culture: Described as a team of "makers who take action" — a bias for building and solving problems. The team works out of a former historic brewery in San Francisco’s Mission District.
  • Remote/Hybrid/Office: Likely hybrid or in-office based on the San Francisco headquarters and the nature of close collaboration on AI/robotics.
  • Engineering Culture: Deep technical challenges at the intersection of AI, robotics, and enterprise software. Team includes alumni from Google, Everyday Robots, and top AI labs. Engineers work on transformer-based models, computer vision, and agentic AI.
  • Benefits & Perks: Health, Dental, Vision coverage; 401K (via Human Interest); Commuter Benefits (parking, public transit); Lifestyle perks; Reliable family coverage.
  • Growth Stage: Early-stage (Series A, ~22 people) with massive growth trajectory — a chance to have outsized impact as an early employee.
  • Open Roles: 9 active positions including Software Engineer, Applied AI Engineer, Founding Designer, Enterprise Account Executive, Head of Sales, and Forward Deployed Engineer.

Application questions