Founding Senior Principal Engineer - AI, Agents & Infrastructure

About the Role

We are seeking a Founding Senior Principal Engineer - AI, Agents & Infrastructure to join our innovative team at Nivalto. This remote position is ideal for candidates located in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a key player in our organization, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of AI agent infrastructure, with a focus on security, governance, and compliance. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead the development of a platform that addresses the challenges of deploying AI agents in regulated environments.

What You'll Do

• Lead the architectural design and implementation of the AI agent infrastructure, ensuring it meets the highest standards of security and compliance.
• Develop production-ready code and establish engineering standards that ensure the robustness of our systems.
• Collaborate closely with the CEO and VP of Product to align technical execution with business goals and buyer readiness.
• Oversee the creation of core systems, including the governed execution layer and money movement layer, ensuring they are ready for enterprise deployment.
• Implement policies and controls that govern AI-driven workflows and transaction processes.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with a focus on leading and building complex systems as a senior individual contributor.
• Proven track record in early-stage or founding environments, demonstrating the ability to execute from concept to deployment.
• Strong backend and platform skills, with expertise in APIs, distributed systems, and security implementations.
• Experience with governance, identity, and authorization systems, as well as cloud and distributed systems.
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of producing clear specifications and documentation.

Nice to Have

• Experience in payments orchestration or high-integrity transaction systems.
• Familiarity with regulated domains such as banking, healthcare, or insurance.
• Participation in industry standards organizations like IETF or CNCF.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from $285K to $320K, with a performance bonus of 20-25%.
• Equity options in a pre-seed startup with significant growth potential.
• Flexible working hours with a fractional commitment initially, transitioning to full-time post-seed funding.
• Opportunity to shape the future of AI agent infrastructure in a rapidly growing market.
• Support for relocation and visa sponsorship for exceptional candidates.