AI & Automation Manager, Business Operations New York, NY

Axial's mission is to unleash the power of private capital markets for entrepreneurs by pioneering an online platform that transforms American small business M&A. Founded in 2009, Axial is an NYC-based financial technology platform serving over 10,000 private market M&A participants, including private equity firms, corporate acquirers, boutique investment banks, and business owners. In 2025, Axial powered the exit efforts of about half of the U.S. small and mid-sized business (SMB) M&A market—companies with $5M to $100M revenue—by facilitating 3,000,000+ buyer-seller platform connections across 12,500+ deals. We're a lean, high-conviction team building category-defining products for a market that moves quickly and trusts carefully.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced AI & Automation Manager to design, build, and continuously improve AI-powered workflows, automations, and internal tools that transform how Axial operates. This is a highly technical, hands-on role for someone who enjoys building but is equally energized by determining what should be built, why it matters, and how it should evolve over time. You will help shape Axial's internal AI & Automation strategy by identifying high-impact opportunities, evaluating emerging capabilities, and translating ambiguous business challenges into scalable technical solutions. Your work will span AI agents, workflow orchestration, internal applications, data infrastructure, and lightweight product development, improving operational efficiency and creating better experiences for employees and members.

Responsibilities

• AI Systems Development: Build, deploy, and improve AI-powered workflows, agents, and business applications using LLMs, structured outputs, evaluations, and tools such as Claude Code and Cursor. Deliver reliable solutions for critical workflows across go-to-market, operations, and member experiences.
• Automation & GTM Engineering: Develop and maintain sophisticated workflows using platforms such as n8n, Zapier, Clay, and Google Apps Script. Build integrations and data processes across Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Gong, and related systems to eliminate manual work and enable GTM execution.
• Internal Applications & Operational Products: Create lightweight internal applications, operational tools, dashboards, copilots, and AI-powered interfaces using low-code platforms, AI-assisted development, and custom code. Deliver intuitive products that help teams work more efficiently and make better decisions.
• AI Architecture & Data Infrastructure: Help establish the technical and data foundations required for reliable AI & automation solutions. Connect AI models to business data and external applications using APIs, tool calling, context management, retrieval-augmented generation, MCPs, vector databases, and comparable approaches.
• AI & Automation Strategy and Roadmap: Partner with Business Operations leadership to develop our AI & automation strategy and project roadmap. Evaluate emerging tools and recommend priorities to shape Axial’s long-term operations objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5-8 years of experience designing and building technical solutions within Business Operations, GTM Engineering, RevOps, Automation, Software Engineering, or similar technical operating roles at a high-growth technology company.
• Operating Experience: Experience partnering with business leaders to identify operational bottlenecks, redesign workflows, and translate business objectives into durable technical solutions. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and balancing competing priorities across multiple stakeholders.
• Tool Experience: Strong hands-on experience across several of the following areas: LLMs and AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code or Cursor; workflow automation platforms such as n8n, Zapier, Clay, Make, or Google Apps Script; and GTM systems such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Gong.
• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable writing and maintaining code in JavaScript, Python, SQL, Apps Script, or similar languages to extend automations, integrations, and internal applications. Experience working with APIs, authentication, webhooks, and structured data.
• Systems Thinking: Demonstrated ability to decompose complex operational problems and balance speed, maintainability, reliability, security, and user experience when developing solutions.
• Product & Business Judgment: Able to determine not only how to build a solution, but whether it should be built, how success should be measured, and how it fits within broader business priorities and technical architecture.
• Ownership: History of independently leading complex initiatives from problem definition through implementation, adoption, monitoring, iteration, and long-term durability.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent communicator who can explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and build strong partnerships across both technical and business teams.

Team and Collaboration

• Business Operations Team: Work alongside the VP of Operations, Business Operations Lead, and teammates to translate operational challenges into practical technical solutions. The team has a highly collaborative, hands-on ethos, with regular AI and automation hackathons to scope problems, prototype solutions, and learn from one another.
• Cross-Functional Stakeholders: Partner with leaders and teams across the business—including VP of Product, VP of GTM, Data Engineering, GTM Managers, and individual contributors—to understand workflows, identify opportunities, and deliver AI-powered solutions that improve business outcomes.

Benefits

• Robust medical, dental, and vision insurance, nearly 100% paid by Axial
• 401k program
• Flexible vacation policy
• Paid Parental Leave Policy
• Monthly Health & Wellness stipend
• Pre-tax commuter program

Pay

NY Pay Range: $175,000 - $225,000 USD

Schedule

In-office: 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Company Values

• Obsess Over Member Trust: Your daily choices reflect your awareness that we facilitate vital life-altering transactions. You take this responsibility seriously and it’s top of mind.
• Expect and Deliver Excellence: You demonstrate consistency so that your colleagues feel confident partnering and relying on you. You demonstrate a personal commitment to continuous improvement.
• Communication Matters: You are concise and articulate in your communication, external or internal. You listen well and genuinely.
• Invent and Simplify: You are open-minded, looking for great new ideas that can elevate and even transform the member experience. You find novel ways to simplify complex status quos.
• Be an Owner: You think about the long-term effects of your decisions. You invest real time in building relationships with your colleagues.

Traits We Cultivate

• Humility: We seek truth, not credit, and learn from anyone.
• Positivity: We bring energy, optimism, and belief, even when it is hard.
• Grit: We show up, follow through, and push beyond the first draft.
• Discernment: We choose wisely, prioritize sharply, and ask better questions.
• Accountability: We take full responsibility for our work and results.