Innovation Engineer

Summary

Join Yardzen, a leading company in the outdoor renovation industry, as an Innovation Engineer. This high-impact role requires a bold and entrepreneurial engineer passionate about solving complex challenges using AI and software. You will build innovative tools, prototype new features, and lead initiatives to enhance client experiences and internal workflows. The position demands strong product-minded engineering skills and a deep understanding of AI technologies. You will collaborate closely with various teams to identify opportunities and develop scalable, AI-enhanced solutions. This role offers a unique blend of technical development and strategic thinking, allowing you to contribute to Yardzen's long-term technical strategy and AI roadmap. Yardzen is a remote-first company offering a competitive salary and benefits package.

Requirements

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including full-stack development
• Proven success in building and deploying innovative, high-impact features in production environments
• Strong technical foundation in modern web and mobile technologies and frameworks (e.g., React, Node.js, Python, Ruby/Rails)
• Hands-on experience and deep interest in AI technologies, including LLMs, computer vision, or recommendation systems
• Track record of working through ambiguity and independently leading projects from concept to delivery
• A user-centric mindset with deep empathy for end users and an eye for delightful, intuitive UX
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills—you can translate complex technical ideas into plain language for non-technical stakeholders
• Experience driving architectural decisions, mentoring engineers, and improving dev workflows
• Curiosity, grit, and a continuous learning mindset—you’re excited by the unknown and driven to figure things out

Responsibilities

• Build and Scale Innovative Tools: Lead development of novel, high-impact product features and internal tools that improve client experience, design workflows, and operational efficiency
• Drive AI-Powered Solutions: Prototype and deploy solutions leveraging LLMs, computer vision, and recommendation strategies to solve key product and business challenges
• Own from 0→1: Identify opportunities, define requirements, prototype rapidly, and ship iteratively—balancing technical depth with speed to impact
• Elevate Engineering Practices: Champion scalable architecture, clean code, testing best practices, and developer efficiency, including incorporating AI-assisted development tools
• Mentor & Uplevel the Team: Serve as a technical mentor and thought leader, fostering a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement
• Set Strategy: Help shape Yardzen’s long-term technical strategy and AI roadmap in alignment with business goals and product vision

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI/ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or OpenAI APIs
• Familiarity with MLOps, model deployment, and monitoring best practices
• Mobile development experience (e.g., React Native, Flutter, or native iOS/Android frameworks)
• Previous experience in a consumer-facing tech company, marketplace, or design/build industry
• Passion for home design, architecture, or outdoor spaces

Benefits

• Remote work, always: We're a remote-first company
• Full coverage for you: 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Competitive compensation: Salary that matches your skills and experience
• $150,000 - $180,000 a year
• Support for growing families: 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave
• Monthly perks: Wellness, cell phone, and internet stipends to keep you connected and cared for