Project Runner

Summary

Join AE Studio, a development, data science, and design studio, as a Project Runner and lead execution across research and product efforts. You will transform abstract ideas into actionable roadmaps, guide teams, and ensure progress aligns with objectives. This hybrid role blends technical project management, AI architecture, and entrepreneurial skills. You will manage projects from inception to launch, working with generative AI, automation, and custom tooling. You will also translate vague concepts into testable hypotheses, define project scope, and prioritize tasks. The position offers opportunities to build AI tools, communicate effectively with clients, and potentially spin off your own venture.

Requirements

• Proven experience in product leadership, AI product development, or startup building
• Strong understanding of generative AI stacks, LLMs, vector DBs, and APIs
• Entrepreneurial mindset: bias toward action, scrappiness, and experimentation
• Strong communicator: clear with clients, inspiring with teams, strategic with stakeholders
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and ship without waiting for permission
• Preference for small teams, 0→1 problems, and real-world results over theory
• Experience working in consulting, agencies, startups, or early-stage ventures

Responsibilities

• Own AI and Software Projects E2E driving projects from kickoff to launch across generative AI, automation, agent orchestration, or custom tooling. Own delivery and outcomes
• Act as Product Owner and Team Lead, translating vague ideas into tested hypotheses. Define scope. Prioritize fast. Build what matters with devs, designers, and researchers
• Be Enterprise-Ready to communicate clearly with demanding clients. Align stakeholders. Set expectations. Bring confidence and clarity to complex discussions
• Build with AI Tools (Not Just Manage) . You’re fluent in LLMs, LangChain, RAG stacks, vector search, OpenAI APIs, fine-tuning, or similar. You prototype and validate with your own hands
• Work like a Founder while navigating ambiguity, wearing multiple hats, and making hard calls. Build with urgency and care. Take extreme ownership and find leverage
• Spin Off (Eventually) - AE supports startup spinouts. You’ll have the opportunity to become CEO or CTO of a venture—either something you incubate here or that AE backs you to lead

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior founder/operator experience or deep desire to build a venture
• Experience building prototypes or MVPs in AI/no-code/low-code
• Exposure to AGI-aligned thinking or AI safety concepts
• Fluent in user research, iterative development, and lean experimentation
• Network or domain expertise in areas where AI can unlock 10x value
• High client satisfaction and consistent delivery on ambitious timelines
• Impactful prototypes that create real business value
• AI capabilities implemented in useful, reliable ways
• Spinout ventures launched or accelerated based on your leadership
• Growth in your leadership path: from Runner → Director → CEO/CTO

Benefits

• Build cool things using the coolest and more modern tools and actually ship it
• Work alongside top 0.1% engineers, researchers, designers, and founders
• Access to AE’s internal ideas, capital network, and spinout playbook
• Grow into a founder with guidance, support, and real projects to prove yourself on
• Salary range from $120k/year to $220k/year
• Working at AE means receiving equity in our client projects and in Skunkworks ventures
• The equity is priced at $0 when granted for tax reasons, but AE invests millions into these projects
• Equity comes from reduced margins on client work and internal funding
• You get a real stake in the things you help build
• The longer you stay, the more value you create and the more equity you receive
• If you leave on good terms, you can retain 20% of your equity by staying engaged
• If you spin out a Skunkworks venture, you retain 100%