Quick Overview
Lead engineering for AI-powered e-commerce knowledge platforms at Demand.io. Shape the future of online shopping by developing cutting-edge technologies like ShopGraph, SimplyCodes, and Product.ai. Ideal for experienced engineering leaders passionate about AI, data engineering, and community-driven product development in a fast-paced environment.
About Demand.io
Demand.io aims to be the world's leading source of e-commerce knowledge. Founded in 2009, we're developing AI-driven products to transform online shopping:
- ShopGraph: Proprietary e-commerce knowledge graph powering our product suite
- SimplyCodes: AI and community-powered savings platform covering 400,000+ stores
- Product.ai: AI shopping assistant (in development) to redefine online purchasing
Our products drive over $1 billion in annual e-commerce volume, with plans for substantial growth.
The Opportunity
We're seeking an experienced VP of Engineering to lead our engineering efforts across our product portfolio. In this high-impact role, you'll:
- Drive the development and scaling of ShopGraph, our core e-commerce knowledge platform
- Lead AI and machine learning initiatives across all products
- Oversee engineering for SimplyCodes and the development of Product.ai
- Scale our engineering team while maintaining a culture of innovation and excellence
- Implement cutting-edge technologies and practices in data engineering and AI
You'll report directly to the CEO and play a key role in shaping the company's technical strategy and vision.
What You'll Do
- Lead the overall engineering strategy and execution for Demand.io
- Drive the evolution of ShopGraph, improving its scale, performance, and AI capabilities
- Oversee the development of AI-powered features for SimplyCodes and Product.ai
- Grow and mentor a team of top-tier engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning
- Collaborate with product and business teams to align engineering efforts with company goals
- Implement best practices in data engineering, AI/ML, and software development
- Optimize infrastructure and reduce costs while scaling our systems
- Represent Demand.io's engineering practice at industry conferences and in thought leadership initiatives
A Day in the Life
As VP of Engineering at Demand.io, you might:
- Review plans for implementing a new hybrid graph and vector database architecture for ShopGraph
- Meet with the AI team to discuss improvements in LLM-based data processing
- Mentor senior engineers on advanced system design for real-time data updates
- Present new technical strategies to the executive team, influencing product roadmaps
- Analyze performance metrics and plan optimizations for our distributed systems
About You
We're open to exceptional candidates at various levels - title and compensation will be commensurate with experience and impact.
Must-Haves:
- 10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles (Director level or above) in high-growth tech companies
- Proven track record of leading the development of large-scale, distributed systems handling millions of users and billions of data points
- Deep expertise in AI and machine learning, including hands-on experience with NLP, large language models, and knowledge graphs
- Strong background in data engineering, including experience with both SQL and NoSQL databases, data warehousing, and real-time data processing
- Demonstrated ability to scale engineering teams from 15 to 30+ while maintaining or improving team velocity and code quality
- Experience leading the entire software development lifecycle for multiple products simultaneously
- Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value, and vice versa
- Strong coding skills and the ability to dive deep into technical problems when needed
- Experience with cloud platforms (preferably Google Cloud Platform) and microservices architectures
- Track record of successful cross-functional collaboration, particularly with product and data science teams
Nice-to-Haves:
- Experience specifically with graph databases (e.g., Neo4j, Amazon Neptune) and vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Faiss)
- Background in e-commerce or retail technology, with understanding of industry-specific challenges and opportunities
- Expertise in search technologies and recommendation systems
- Experience with real-time bidding systems or high-frequency trading platforms
- Track record of contributions to open-source projects or research publications in AI, ML, or distributed systems
- Experience implementing and managing GPU clusters for AI model training and inference
- Familiarity with blockchain technologies and their potential applications in e-commerce
- Background in building and managing data annotation teams or crowdsourcing platforms
- Experience with AR/VR technologies and their potential applications in e-commerce
- Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science, AI, or a related field from a top-tier institution
Compensation & Growth Opportunity
At Demand.io, we align individual success with company performance:
- Competitive base salary: $250,000 - $400,000 DOE
- Equity: 0.5% - 1.5% initial grant in a $100M+ valuation company
Partners Program: Our profit-sharing system
- Substantial cash bonuses tied to company performance
- Additive to already competitive core compensation package
- Potential to earn multiples of base salary through monthly profit-sharing
- Rewards exceptional performance and long-term commitment
The Partners Program provides increasing rewards as Demand.io grows. Eligibility typically begins after 3-6 months, with increasing bonus percentages as you advance through Partner levels.
"The Partners Program has allowed me to earn significantly more than in traditional roles. It makes you feel truly invested in the company's success." - Jimmy Doheny, Director of Business Operations
We're happy to discuss the program in detail during the interview process.
Benefits for High Performers
💰 Equity Partners program with uncapped earning potential
🚀 Advancement opportunities based on impact
📚 Learning stipend for conferences, courses, and certifications
🖥️ Access to advanced AI tools including our own GPU cluster for AI model training
🏥 Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for you and all dependents
🏖️ Unlimited PTO
👶 Parental leave policy
📈 401(k) program
🍽️ Catered lunches in our state-of-the-art Santa Monica office
🏠 Relocation assistance for exceptional candidates
Our benefits are designed to support high achievers in a fast-paced, innovative environment. You'll have the opportunity to lead projects on cutting-edge AI products, collaborate in a low-ego atmosphere, and work in our impressive office space featuring sweeping views and ample focus areas.
Our Culture
At Demand.io, we value:
- Innovation: Exploring new ideas and technologies
- Empowerment: Taking ownership of impactful projects
- Continuous Growth: Constantly learning and improving
"At Demand.io, we're building the future of e-commerce. Every team member has the opportunity to make a significant impact." - Michael Quoc, Founder & CEO
We primarily work from our Santa Monica office, believing that in-person collaboration drives innovation, while maintaining overall flexibility and autonomy.
Ready to Shape the Future of E-commerce?
If you're excited about leading engineering efforts that will advance AI-powered shopping experiences and e-commerce knowledge platforms, we want to hear from you.
Learn more about our products, our values, and what it's like to work at Demand.io.
