Founding AI Engineer | Hong Kong, HK

Full Description

Founding AI Engineer

Build intelligent systems end-to-end - from models to real-world product experiences.

A1 is a self-funded AI division backed by BJAK, operating fully in stealth.

We're building a new global consumer AI application around an important but non-mainstream use case - something real, practical, and deeply impactful.

As a Founding AI Engineer, you will work at the intersection ofmachine learning, backend systems, and product engineering, turning models into polished, high-performing user experiences.

You'll work closely with a small, senior, technical team and have ownership across the entire engineering stack.

Why This Role Matters

• You will be the bridge between powerful ML models and real user-facing product experiences.

• You'll shape the foundation of an entirely new AI product from zero - architecture, systems, and the first shipped features.

• You'll work across ML integration, backend logic, and frontend experiences - building intelligent systems end-to-end.

• You'll operate in a lean, fast, execution-driven environment where clarity, ownership, and craftsmanship matter.

• Your work directly influences the technical direction, velocity, and engineering DNA of A1.

What You'll Do

• Build and ship full-stack features powered by ML models (LLMs, deep learning, multimodal, etc.)

• Work closely with ML engineers/researchers to integrate models into scalable, reliable backend systems

• Develop APIs, pipelines, and real-time services that support intelligent product behavior

• Build clean, performant UIs that surface model outputs in intuitive ways

• Own the full development lifecycle - architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, monitoring

• Drive technical decisions that balance speed, quality, and scalability

• Collaborate directly with product and design to iterate fast and refine user workflows

• Continuously improve system performance, latency, stability, and model integration

You'll Thrive Here If You...

• Own outcomes - you care about the end user, not just the code

• Enjoy working across ML, backend, and frontend layers

• Move fast with clarity - V1 shipped today beats V3 planned for someday

• Thrive in ambiguity - you figure things out without waiting for perfect specs

• Think like a builder - small team, high leverage, real impact

• Learn aggressively - new frameworks, tools, and ideas excite you

• Bring energy, discipline, and a high bar for execution

• Communicate clearly and enjoy collaborating with deeply technical teammates

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent

• Strong proficiency in Python (required)

• 2-5 years of experience in full-stack or backend-heavy engineering

• Strong programming skills in JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js, React, or similar)

• Experience integrating ML models into production systems

• Solid understanding of building APIs, distributed systems, and cloud deployments

• Comfortable working with SQL/NoSQL databases

• Strong grasp of software architecture, testing, reliability, and debugging

• Ability to work independently in a lean, remote-first, high-ownership environment

Nice to Have

• Experience deploying ML models (FastAPI, Flask, TensorFlow Serving, Triton, etc.)

• Familiarity with modern frontend stacks (Next.js, Vue, TypeScript)

• Experience with ML tooling (MLflow, Airflow, Docker, K8s, GCP/AWS)

• Exposure to LLM fine-tuning, embeddings, or model optimisation

• Background in startups or fast-moving product teams

• Interest in explainable AI or designing UI patterns for complex model outputs

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation with meaningful ownership and long-term upside

• Remote-first setup - flexibility across regions and time zones

• High-impact role with visibility across engineering, ML, and product

• A chance to shape a new global AI product from day zero

• Flat, technical culture - your ideas and code matter

• The backing of a profitable group valued at over US$2B, but the speed of a startup

• A seat at the table in defining the future of A1 About A1

A1 is a self-funded, independent AI division backed by BJAK.

We're building a new consumer AI application around a high-impact global use case that isn't yet addressed by mainstream players.

Operating fully in stealth, we're assembling a small, elite team of ML and engineering builders who care about shipping real systems that make a difference.