Head of AI

Cyvl is a Boston-based tech startup revolutionizing how governments map and manage transportation infrastructure. Our enterprise-grade hardware and software solutions leverage 3D mapping sensors to capture LiDAR imagery and GPS data retrofitted to our customers vehicles. This data is processed through our AI-powered cloud pipelines to generate actionable geospatial insights that save cities time money and resources.

At Cyvl our mission is to empower governments to build and maintain public infrastructure theyre proud of. We are already accelerating decision-making nationwide through our sensors and Infrastructure Intelligence Platform. This role owns the AI/ML strategy that powers the next generation of our Intelligence Platform translating a bold product vision into the technical roadmap team and systems that make it real.

Were a fast-moving high-growth team that believes in solving real-world problems with authenticity simplicity and boldness. Every member of our team is empowered to take ownership deliver results and leave a lasting impact on the communities we serve.

Youve led AI/ML teams that built production systems on complex multi-modal data. Youve set technical strategy hired engineers and shipped products not just published research. Youre comfortable going hands-on with code and models when needed but your real leverage is in figuring out what to build in what order and hiring the right people to build it. Youve worked with sensor data geospatial data or physical-world AI and you understand that the hardest problems arent model architecture problems theyre data strategy problems. You want to build the AI function that teaches machines to understand physical infrastructure at a depth and scale that has never existed.

• Interpret Cyvls Infrastructure Intelligence vision and translate it into a concrete AI/ML technical strategy covering perception (imagery LiDAR) knowledge representation and data architecture.

• Be hands-on in the early months: set up the initial ML pipelines make key architectural decisions and validate technical approaches before you have a team.

• Hire and lead the AI/ML team starting with a senior ML engineer and a senior knowledge graph architect as the first two roles.

• Own the full intelligence extraction pipeline: from raw sensor data to detections geometric measurements cross-modal representations and a queryable knowledge graph.

• Work directly with the CEO and engineering leadership to align AI/ML investments with product priorities and customer needs.

• 8 years in ML/AI with at least 3 years leading a team (hiring managing setting technical direction).

• Track record of shipping production ML systems on sensor data geospatial data or multi-modal data at scale.

• Experience setting AI/ML strategy for a product or business unit not just executing someone elses roadmap.

• Hands-on technical depth: you can train models design data pipelines and evaluate architectural tradeoffs yourself.

• Experience with data-efficient learning approaches (active learning semi-supervised methods foundation model adaptation) in production.

• Led teams of 3 ML/AI engineers and made successful senior technical hires.

• Strong communicator who can translate between technical AI/ML concepts and business/product strategy.

• Experience with LiDAR point cloud data or 3D perception.

• Background in autonomous vehicles HD mapping satellite imagery or infrastructure/civil engineering domains.

• Experience building knowledge graphs or ontology-driven data architectures.

• Familiarity with geospatial databases (PostGIS spatial indexing).

• Experience designing data architectures for agentic or LLM-driven access patterns.

• Background at Palantir an AV company or a geospatial intelligence organization.

• Experience at a startup or scaling an AI/ML function from zero.

• Competitive salary and equity package ($300K-$400K total comp equity-heavy)

• Comprehensive health dental and vision coverage

• 401(k) with immediate vesting

• Generous PTO paid parental leave and flexible work options

• Annual professional development stipend

• Team events referral bonuses and a collaborative growth-focused culture

• Ownership of the entire AI/ML function at a company with real data real customers and a clear vision

At Cyvl youll join a driven and supportive team thats all out in building technology with real impact. We care deeply about our work our customers and each other. Collaboration and trust are at the core of how we operate.

Our values guide how we operate and shape a team that is genuinely RAARE:

Real - authentic transparent focused on solving real problems with simple effective solutions.

All Out - bold driven and committed to delivering results that matter.

Accelerating - always learning growing and moving with intention.

Reliable - we follow through and deliver at a consistently high bar.

Empowering - we lift each other up and help governments build infrastructure they can be proud of.

Learn about our startup journey

Learn what we are doing

Learn about our customers

Together we stay curious learn quickly and keep raising the bar. If you want to grow make an impact that truly matters and be part of a team thats shaping the future of public infrastructure youll feel right at home at Cyvl.

At Cyvl we welcome and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We do not discriminate based on race color religion sex gender identity or expression sexual orientation age national origin disability veteran status or any other protected characteristic. Your unique perspective is valued here.

Required Experience:

Director