Technical Strategy & Execution Lead

AE Studio is an LA-based company focused on increasing human agency by making the AGI future go well. We believe alignment is solvable, people just haven’t tried hard enough. For us, that means focusing on neglected ideas that could unlock major breakthroughs.We’ve spent over a decade helping clients, from startups to companies like Samsung, Walmart, Berkshire Hathaway, and Goodfire, solve complex technical problems and bring ambitious products to life. We apply the same structures to research. Instead of a client, we partner with visionary researchers exploring neglected alignment ideas. We’re a full-stack R&D group combining engineering, science, and product capability. This puts us in a unique position to move quickly and make real progress on one of the most important problems of our time.We're fully bootstrapped. We don’t rely on venture capital or private equity. Profits from our client work go directly into internal Skunkworks projects, technical research, and policy engagement. This gives us the freedom to pursue high-risk, high-upside ideas that typical funding models neglect. We can commit to long-term bets without being constrained by short grant cycles or investor timelines.Our alignment efforts include in-house work, alignment clients like Goodfire AI, and collaborations with Redwood Research and researchers at Anthropic and DeepMind. In the past, we also led pioneering research in brain-computer interfaces, and we continue to expand our scope as the stakes rise.If you care about actually solving alignment and want to build, we want to talk to you!ABOUT THE ROLEWe’re hiring a strategic and technical operator to lead execution across client, research and product efforts. You’ll turn abstract ideas into clear roadmaps, keep teams moving, and ensure progress is visible and aligned with goals.You’ll own alignment-focused projects from end to end. Some may be internal Skunkworks efforts. Others may involve clients, grants, or research partners. You’ll help us explore neglected AI alignment ideas, technical bets, or automation pipelines, and move them from concept to real-world impact.ABOUT YOUYou understand the dynamics of AI and ML systems and can track technical complexity, ask the right questions, and frame strategic trade-offs.You lead high-stakes technical projects from beginning to end. You break down ambiguity, define milestones, and focus the team on what matters.You’re fluent with technical and non-technical people. You can translate between engineers, clients, researchers, and funders.You don’t just manage. You dive in when needed to test ideas, validate prototypes, or unblock the team.You keep projects fast and focused. You identify dead ends early and avoid wasting time on low-leverage work.You communicate clearly upward. You make sure leadership and stakeholders know what’s happening and why.You thrive in unstructured environments. You operate independently and take full ownership of results.You’re interested in leading a Skunkworks spinout, research track, or internal product.SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE LOOKS LIKEYou take initiative without waiting for permission. You’re agentic, resourceful, and biased toward action.Consistent delivery on research and product milestonesTechnical teams are unblocked and moving with speed and clarityYou make smart trade-offs and avoid wasted effort on low-leverage workStakeholders and leadership stay aligned through clear, timely updatesProgress is made on hard, valuable, and often underdefined problems in AI and alignmentREQUIREMENTSWorking knowledge of AI and ML systems Experience managing complex technical projects - including research management experience - or teamsStrong judgment around product, research, and technical trade-offsAbility to structure execution across ambiguous or high-stakes effortsExcellent communication across technical and strategic contextsAlignment with AE’s mission and long-term thinkingFull-time availabilityBONUS POINTS FORExperience in AI research, technical product leadership, or startup foundingPrior work with generative AI, large language models, or experimental architecturesBackground in DARPA-style research, grant-based work, or scientific pipelinesBased in LA and able to work in person at our officeSalary range is from $120K to $220K per year for people based in California. Not in the range? That's fine, you can still apply, and our team may fit you in a more senior position that we're not actively hiring right now, but we are growing fast and may have other openings soon.EQUITYWorking 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