Founding Head of Engineering - AI, Agents & Infrastructure

About the Role

We're seeking a Founding Head of Engineering for AI, Agents & Infrastructure to join our innovative team at Nivalto. This remote role is perfect for candidates based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the Founding Head of Engineering, you will lead the development of critical infrastructure for the emerging AI agent economy, a market projected to exceed $400 billion by 2030. This position offers an equity-first compensation model with a competitive salary range of $275K–$325K plus a performance bonus of 20–25%.

What You'll Do

• Lead the architecture and specification of Nivalto's AI agent infrastructure, ensuring it meets the highest standards of security and compliance.
• Drive the development of the Agent ROA Protocol, establishing it as a standard for governed AI workflows.
• Oversee the implementation of the Payment Fabric stack, facilitating cross-organization collaboration capabilities.
• Establish engineering discipline, including CI/CD processes and security baselines.
• Collaborate with the CEO and VP of Product to ensure alignment on project sequencing and scope control.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in engineering leadership, particularly in early-stage or founding roles.
• Strong technical background in backend/platform development, distributed systems, and security-minded implementations.
• Proven ability to lead the development of complex systems from concept to deployment.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills for clear specifications and documentation.
• Experience in regulated domains such as banking, healthcare, or trading is highly valued.

Nice to Have

• Experience with payments orchestration or high-integrity transaction systems.
• Familiarity with compliance logging and evidence pipelines.
• Participation in standards bodies like IETF or CNCF.

What We Offer

• Equity-first compensation and performance bonuses.
• Remote work flexibility with a focus on work-life balance.
• Visa sponsorship and relocation support for exceptional candidates.
• Opportunity to shape the engineering culture from the ground up.
• Engagement in a rapidly growing market with significant impact potential.