Applied AI Engineer

Permitflow
New York, US
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Geared toward mid-level AI engineers comfortable with deploying multi-step AI systems in a hybrid NYC office setting.

Best fit for

  • Engineers with production AI system experience seeking impact in construction tech.
    — “Hands-on experience shipping production AI/ML systems or AI-powered products
  • Backend-focused developers who can integrate AI into user-facing features.
    — “Strong backend and API development skills, with some frontend experience
  • Candidates who thrive in fast-moving startup environments with evolving priorities.
    — “Startup grit and comfort in fast-moving, evolving environments

Things to consider

  • Hybrid work model requires 3 in-office days per week in NYC.
    — “hybrid schedule (3 in-office days per week)
  • Relocation or NYC residency is preferred for this position.
    — “prefer NYC-based candidates or those open to relocation

How to stand out

  • Showcase specific examples of multi-step ML systems you've designed.
    — “Experience building multi-step ML systems, pipelines, or agentic workflows
  • Highlight projects where you optimized for both speed and cost in production.
    — “Optimize inference pipelines and backend systems for speed, scalability, and cost
  • Demonstrate your ability to build reliable products with attention to detail.
    — “Track record of building reliable products with attention to quality and detail
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • design and deploy AI agents
  • build reliable AI systems
  • contribute to core platform engineering
Typical background
software engineeringML engineeringAI development

Skills & requirements

Required

AI AgentsModel DevelopmentOrchestrationProductionizationBackend And Frontend ServicesAPI DevelopmentData PipelinesSystem ArchitectureEvaluation And BenchmarkingInference PipelinesBackend Systems

Preferred

Multi-step ML SystemsAgentic WorkflowsFrontend ExperienceReliabilityQuality And Detail

Stack & domain

Ai Agent DevelopmentModel DeploymentOrchestrationBackend And Frontend ServicesApi DevelopmentData PipelinesSystem ArchitectureEvaluation And BenchmarkingInference PipelinesBackend Systems OptimizationCollaborationProblem-solvingAttention To DetailLeadershipCommunicationAIConstructionPermittingLicensingInspectionsProject Closeouts

About the role

Original posting from Permitflow via Ashby

PermitFlow is redefining how America builds. We’re an applied AI company serving the nation’s builders, tackling one of the largest information challenges in the economy: understanding what can be built, where, and how. Our AI agent workforce helps the fastest-growing construction companies navigate everything from permitting and licensing to inspections and project closeouts – accelerating housing, clean-energy, and infrastructure development across the country.

Despite being a $1.6T industry, construction still suffers from massive delays, wasted capital, and lost opportunity. PermitFlow has already delivered unprecedented speed, accuracy, and visibility to over $20B in development, helping contractors reduce compliance time, de-risk projects, and scale with confidence.

As the U.S. enters a new capex supercycle across data centers, factories, housing, and renewables, joining PermitFlow means building the AI infrastructure at the core of every construction project driving the next wave of reindustrialization.

We’ve raised over $90M, most recently completing our Series B, https://www.permitflow.com/blog/permitflow-series-b from top-tier investors including Accel, Kleiner Perkins https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7401703305569275904/, Initialized, Y Combinator, Felicis, and Altos Ventures, with backing from leaders at OpenAI, Google, Procore, ServiceTitan, Zillow, PlanGrid, and Uber.

Our HQ is in New York City with a hybrid schedule (3 in-office days per week). We prefer NYC-based candidates or those open to relocation.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As an Applied AI Engineer, you will design and deploy the AI agents that power PermitFlow’s pre-construction platform. You will own the full lifecycle of intelligent agents—from model development to orchestration, productionization, and evaluation—while contributing to core platform engineering.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

  • Develop and deploy AI agents that automate permitting workflows end-to-end
  • Orchestrate multiple models and tools to create reliable, multi-step AI systems
  • Build the internal tools and infrastructure that power and monitor these agents
  • Design and implement backend and frontend services, APIs, and data pipelines, integrating AI functionality into user-facing features when needed
  • Contribute to system architecture and core platform design with the engineering team
  • Design and maintain a suite of evaluations and benchmarks to measure agent accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness
  • Optimize inference pipelines and backend systems for speed, scalability, and cost

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

  • 3+ years in software or ML engineering post-BS/MS
  • Hands-on experience shipping production AI/ML systems or AI-powered products
  • Experience building multi-step ML systems, pipelines, or agentic workflows
  • Strong backend and API development skills, with some frontend experience
  • Track record of building reliable products with attention to quality and detail
  • Startup grit and comfort in fast-moving, evolving environments

WHAT WE OFFER

  • Competitive salary and meaningful equity in a high-growth company
  • 100% company-paid base medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees + healthcare FSA
  • 401(k) savings plan
  • Unlimited PTO and paid family leave
  • Home office & equipment stipend
  • Daily in-office lunch and dinner provided
  • Commuter benefits (pre-tax transit and parking)

PermitFlow provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or family status, as protected by applicable law.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome people from all backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and abilities. All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.

Source: Permitflow careers (Ashby)

Similar roles