Founding AI Engineer

About the job

We’re looking for a Founding AI Engineer who will own Nova’s intelligence layer ... end to end. This is a full-time role and compensation is equity-based at this stage. In this role, you will design and build the systems that understand conversation tone, intent, pacing, and engagement patterns. You’ll work on early versions of features like conversation health signals, red-flag detection, karma and engagement scoring, and gentle, non-intrusive nudges that guide healthier communication. You’ll decide when to use rules, when to use models, and how to combine them responsibly. This is a founding role, which means ambiguity is part of the job. You won’t be handed perfect data, perfectly scoped problems, or mature pipelines. You will help define what “emotionally intelligent communication” actually means in a real-world product and translate that into working systems. Product thinking, ethical awareness, and empathy for users are essential.

Requirements

• Machine Learning
• NLP
• Conversational Systems
• Product Thinking
• Ethical Awareness

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of hands-on experience in applied machine learning, NLP, or conversational systems

Preferred Technologies

• Machine Learning
• NLP
• Conversational Systems
• Product Thinking
• Ethical Awareness

Benefits

• Equity-based compensation

About the company

Nova is an early-stage startup building an emotionally intelligent dating app focused on calm, respectful, and meaningful communication. The company is not building another swipe-first product, but building intelligence that understands how people communicate — including silence, hesitation, boundaries, and emotional intent.