AI Engineer
About the Role
RDE Advisors, Inc. is seeking a Founding AI Engineer to build and ship AI‑powered web applications for the commercial real estate industry. This product engineering role focuses on developing real applications, not AI research or model training. You will work directly with the firm’s founder to take early‑stage products into production and turn new ideas into working software. The role is ideal for a hands‑on full‑stack engineer who has built and shipped web applications, uses AI‑assisted development tools in their workflow, and can turn ambiguous ideas into working products with minimal direction. You will have an opportunity to work across product development, AI‑powered applications, automation, and internal tools in a fast‑moving environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the full product lifecycle, including concept, architecture, development, deployment, and iteration, for AI‑powered applications.
- Build and ship applications using AI coding tools such as Claude, Cursor, and Replit alongside traditional development when needed.
- Take existing products from early development through production‑ready applications.
- Develop new product ideas from initial concepts and whiteboard discussions through working software.
- Create automations and internal tools that streamline brokerage operations, including deal tracking, research, client communications, and marketing.
- Stay current with emerging AI platforms and identify practical ways to apply them to the firm’s products and operations.
- Support the firm’s digital presence, including website, content, and marketing initiatives, using AI tools.
- Work across frontend, backend, databases, and deployment as needed.
- Understand, extend, refactor, or rebuild existing codebases and architectures.
- Collaborate directly with firm leadership on product development and new technology ventures.
- Contribute to the technical and operational scaling of products as they gain traction.
Required Qualifications
- Experience building and shipping web applications with a frontend, backend, and real users.
- Hands‑on experience using AI‑assisted development tools for building, debugging, and shipping full‑stack applications.
- Ability to take a vague product idea and turn it into working software without step‑by‑step direction.
- Comfort working across the full stack, including frontend, backend, databases, and deployment.
- Ability to pick up an existing codebase, understand its architecture, and extend, refactor, or rebuild it as needed.
- Experience in a fast‑moving product development environment where speed of iteration is important.
- Entrepreneurial mindset and interest in building new products rather than primarily maintaining legacy systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with commercial real estate.
- Experience or familiarity with prop‑tech.
- Experience or familiarity with fintech.
Skills & Competencies
- Full‑stack web application development
- AI‑assisted software development
- AI‑powered application development
- Frontend and backend development
- Database development and integration
- Application deployment
- Product development and iteration
- Software architecture
- Debugging and refactoring
- Problem‑solving
- Independent execution
- Adaptability in a fast‑moving environment
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- Ability to translate ambiguous ideas into working software
- Collaboration with firm leadership
Education & Experience
Education: No specific education requirement is stated.
Experience: Candidates should have experience building and shipping web applications with frontend and backend components and real users, as well as experience using AI‑assisted development tools for full‑stack application development.
Work Arrangement & Schedule
- Location: New York, NY, US
- Primary work arrangement: Onsite
- The team generally works from the office and values in‑person collaboration, particularly during onboarding.
- The firm is flexible for the right person.
- Daily collaboration directly with firm leadership.
Compensation & Benefits
- Starting base salary: $65,000–$80,000, depending on experience.
- Performance bonuses: $10,000–$20,000+ tied to product milestones, including launches, user adoption, and revenue targets.
- Compensation may grow as products generate revenue.
- Potential path toward technical leadership across the ventures built by the firm.
Technical Environment
- Next.js 14
- TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS
- Supabase
- PostgreSQL
- Vercel
- Claude API (Anthropic)
- Mapbox
- QuickBooks API integration
Additional Information
RDE Advisors, Inc. is a boutique commercial real‑estate advisory firm in New York City. The role involves working in an intimate, recently renovated office environment alongside a small team and collaborating directly with firm leadership. The company’s core values are respect, honesty, integrity, and hard work.