Head of Engineering: AI + Impact
Software Engineering, Data Science
USD 180k-250k / year + Equity
Posted on Jun 10, 2026
Location: New York City preferred. Remote available, but must travel 1-2 weeks per quarter to NYC.
Compensation: $180K–$250K + 2%–4% equity - 4–6 week mutual alignment trial typical
Reports to: CEO
About us
1 in 3 Americans who qualify for government benefits never receive them -because the system is fragmented, manual, and nearly impossible to navigate. Over $500B flows through outdated, unconnected infrastructure every year.
Starlight is building the core infrastructure layer that connects financial institutions and fintechs directly to government benefits — helping underserved households access SNAP, LIHEAP, utility support, and more.
Starlight is a B2B2C company - we already partner with 15+ Financial Institutions, reach over 700k users and have found over $15m for the households we serve (2025 wrapped). We are accelerating impact, partnerships and products as we scale.
We are backed by Caffeinated Capital, Commerce Ventures, Trustage Ventures, Garuda Ventures and industry leading angels.
The role
This is a founding technical leadership (head of Engineering) role - architect and own the core stack and product experience powered by:
Tracking program eligibility and application process
Prediction models for each household using first party and third party data
AI-native agents that navigate complex benefits systems
Real-time communication systems adaptive to partner needs
Experimentation infrastructure
You do not inherit a roadmap; you will help define it. Help shape engineering culture, technical direction, and velocity standards from the ground up.
Who You Are
Engineer first. Founder mindset.
Relish product ownership.
Comfortable with ambiguity and ownership.
Ship fast without sacrificing quality.
Built foundational systems or scaled consumer-facing products.
Curious about AI agents, automation, and applied ML.
Deeply motivated by meaningful real-world impact.
Why This Role Is Different
Massive problem with structural tailwinds.
Clear distribution via trusted partners with aligned incentives.
Real impact on households and network effects in data quality.
Early equity with meaningful upside personally.
Shape the technical foundation of a national infrastructure layer.
Benefits
Unlimited PTO Health, dental, and vision insurance Competitive compensation Work laptop Internet/cell stipend Fitness/wellness stipend Work time meal stipend Learning & development stipend Regular team offsites Mission-driven workplace
How to Apply
Submit this fast form - and we will be back to you ASAP.
We review every application. Real humans who want to find the right person.
We are powering the infrastructure for how America accesses financial help.