Lead Software Architect(Data Center AI & Automation)

• We are building the intelligence layer that allows physical infrastructure to understand itself, predict its future state, and autonomously optimize its operation.
• Our mission is to solve one of the most important bottlenecks facing the AI economy: power, cooling, and operational efficiency inside data centers and other mission-critical environments.
• We are looking for an architect who wants to lead this effort.
• You will work directly with the founding team to architect and build the fi rst commercial version of client’s Physical AI platform.
• You will make foundational decisions that influence the next decade of the company.
• You will build software that directly interfaces with physical infrastructure operating in real-world environments where reliability matters.
• You will help transform years of research, modeling, controls engineering, and AI development into a production system capable of scaling across mission-critical facilities.
• If you enjoy solving hard technical problems at the intersection of software, physics, controls, and AI, this role was designed for you.

Why This Role — and Why Now

• This is not a software leadership role at a mature technology company where the architecture is already defined, the roadmap is already written, and success is measured by incremental improvements to an existing platform.
• This is an opportunity to become the founding architect of a new category of technology: Physical AI for critical infrastructure.
• Client is at a unique inflection point. Our underlying technology is built upon years of research, physics-based modeling, optimization, and real-world validation. We are now transitioning from proven technology to commercial deployment, and we are looking for the architect who will help transform that foundation into a scalable software platform capable of redefi ning how data centers and other mission-critical environments are operated.
• As a Founding Lead Software Architect, you will be the technical leader responsible for defining the software architecture, technology strategy, and foundational engineering principles of Client''''s Physical AI platform. You will work directly with the founders to transform years of research in digital twins, optimization, controls, and artifi cial intelligence into a production platform capable of operating within mission-critical infrastructure environments.

The person who joins now will:

• Define and guide the architectural vision for client''''s Physical AI platform.
• Architect and develop software across the full technology stack including edge systems, backend services, APIs, databases, and user-facing applications.
• Design scalable telemetry, time-series, and real-time data processing systems.
• Develop integrations with building automation systems, HVAC equipment, sensors, and industrial infrastructure.
• Transform digital twins, optimization engines, and AI models into production-ready software.
• Establish engineering standards, observability, testing strategies, deployment processes, and architectural best practices.
• Collaborate with founders, researchers, customers, and industry partners to align technology with business objectives.
• Participate in technical hiring and help shape client''''s engineering culture.

We are looking for a builder first and a leader second—someone who enjoys architecting systems, writing code, solving difficult technical problems, and turning ambitious ideas into working products.

The ideal candidate is energized by ownership, thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly, and is motivated by the opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up. The impact of your work will be visible not only in the software you create, but in the foundation of the company itself.

For the right person, this is a rare opportunity to become a defining technical force in a company at the earliest stages of growth and help create technology that will infl uence the next generation of intelligent infrastructure.

Core responsibilities

Platform Architecture and Core Engineering: FTE: ~25% | Daily
Architect, design, and build the core components of client''''s Physical AI platform. Establish the architectural principles, technology stack, system boundaries, and engineering standards that will support future products, customer deployments, and company growth. Develop production-grade software that transforms digital twins, optimization engines, and AI technologies into systems customers can confi dently deploy and operate in mission-critical environments.

Full-Stack Software Engineering | ~25% | Daily
Design, develop, and maintain software across the full technology stack, including edge computing systems, backend services, APIs, databases, and user-facing applications. Contribute hands-on code daily while balancing long-term architectural decisions with near-term product delivery.

Data, Telemetry & Infrastructure Systems | ~15% | Daily
Design and implement scalable systems for ingesting, processing, storing, and analyzing high-frequency operational data from real-world data center infrastructure, including DCIM systems, building management systems, environmental sensors, and HVAC control systems. Build robust telemetry pipelines, time-series data architectures, and monitoring capabilities that enable reliable operation of autonomous infrastructure systems.

Industrial Systems Integration | ~10% | Weekly
Develop software interfaces and integration frameworks that connect client''''s platform to building automation systems, HVAC equipment, environmental sensors, industrial control systems, and data center infrastructure. Work with protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, MQTT, OPC-UA, and other industry-standard communication technologies to enable secure and reliable interoperability


Physical AI & Model Operationalization | ~10% | Weekly
Partner closely with researchers and domain experts to transform digital twins, optimization algorithms, and AI models into production-ready software. Ensure that advanced modeling and decision-making capabilities are implemented in a manner that is scalable, maintainable, explainable, and operationally reliable.

Engineering Excellence and Operational Standards: FTE: ~10% | Weekly
Establish and maintain best engineering practices across the platform, including reliability patterns, monitoring and observability, testing strategy, deployment processes, and documentation standards. Build the operational foundation that keeps the platform stable, auditable, and maintainable as both the codebase and the engineering team grow.

Technical Leadership & Engineering Excellence | ~5% | As Needed
Help establish the technical culture, engineering practices, and architectural standards that will guide future growth. Participate in technical hiring, mentor engineers when appropriate, and contribute to creating a high-performance engineering organization focused on speed, quality, ownership, and execution.

Required Minimum Qualifi cations

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years building and deploying production software systems.
• Expert-level software architecture and system design skills.
• Strong hands-on software development experience.
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, APIs, databases, networking, and modern software engineering practices.
• Strong proficiency in Python and experience with C++, Go, or Rust.
• Experience with Linux-based systems, edge computing, PostgreSQL, and real-time data architectures.
• Experience developing software that interfaces with physical systems, industrial infrastructure, or operational technology environments.
• Familiarity with BACnet, Modbus, MQTT, OPC-UA, SNMP, or similar protocols.
• Understanding of controls, automation systems, optimization engines, or complex physical systems.

Preferred Qualifi cations

• Strong candidates will have experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Data center infrastructure, industrial IoT, or critical infrastructure environments.
• HVAC systems, building automation systems, energy management, or industrial controls.
• Digital twins, simulation frameworks, optimization engines, or autonomous control systems.
• Machine learning, reinforcement learning, or AI systems deployed in production.
• Real-time telemetry, edge computing, and time-series data platforms.
• Startup or founding-engineer experience building products from concept through commercial deployment.
• We particularly value candidates who combine strong software architecture skills with a practical understanding of real-world physical systems.

The ideal candidate is:

• Technically exceptional and highly hands-on.
• Fast-moving, execution-oriented, and comfortable making decisions with incomplete information.
• Self-driven, accountable, and energized by ownership.
• Collaborative, low ego, and focused on solving difficult problems.
• Equally comfortable discussing software architecture, AI systems, industrial infrastructure, and customer needs.
• Motivated by building technology that creates measurable impact in the physical world.
• Most importantly, they are someone who wants to create technology that matters and leave a lasting impact on the future of intelligent infrastructure.