Head of Artificial Intelligence

Head of Data & AI | XFunnel | Remote/Hybrid

About XFunnel

XFunnel is pioneering the future of brand intelligence in AI-powered search. We help businesses understand and optimize their presence across AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini. By analyzing millions of AI-generated responses, we provide actionable insights that drive visibility and conversion in this rapidly evolving landscape.

The Role

We're seeking a Head of Data & AI who will own and lead our entire data/AI/ML function from day one. This is a rare opportunity for a seasoned professional who wants to be hands-on while building something from the ground up.

You're not just a data scientist, product manager, or engineer - you're all three. You understand how to build products end-to-end, can architect scalable systems, and know what it takes to turn data into business value.

What You'll Own

• Entire Data Function: Lead all data, AI, and ML initiatives across the company
• Product Development: Take data products from concept to production, understanding user needs and technical constraints
• Technical Architecture: Design and build scalable data infrastructure and ML systems
• Business Strategy: Translate complex AI insights into actionable business recommendations for Fortune 500 clients

Your Background

We're looking for someone with a unique combination of depth across multiple disciplines:

Technical Requirements

• Full-Stack Data: From data pipelines to ML models to user-facing dashboards
• Production Systems: Experience deploying and scaling ML/data products in production
• Business Acumen: Track record of turning technical capabilities into business outcomes
• Hands-On Mentality: Senior enough to lead, but still loves to code and build

Bonus Points

• LLM/NLP expertise: Deep understanding of language models and text processing
• AI Product Experience: Built products that leverage LLMs or other AI technologies
• B2B SaaS: Experience with enterprise software and analytics products
• Startup Experience: Thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments

What You'll Do (Hands-On)

• Day 1: Jump into our codebase and start building
• Week 1: Ship your first data product feature that impacts clients
• Month 1: Establish our technical roadmap and start defining our AI strategy

Why This Role is Unique

• End-to-End Ownership: From database schema to user interface to business strategy
• Founding Impact: Define how an entire industry approaches AI search intelligence
• Technical Leadership: Build and lead the data function at a high-growth startup
• Cutting-Edge Problem: Work with the most unique dataset in AI search behavior
• Direct Client Impact: Your work influences Fortune 500 strategies worth millions

Interview Process

1. Vision Discussion (30 min): Deep conversation with founder about technical strategy and company direction
2. Technical Architecture (60 min): Design session on how you'd approach our data/AI challenges
3. Paid Project (8-10 hours): Build a small data product with our actual dataset
4. Final Discussion: Team fit, equity, and role expectations
5. Reference checks

This is not a 9-5 job. Apply only if you want to work hard to make an impact :)

XFunnel is an equal opportunity employer.