Head of Engineering - Stealth AI Supply Chain Startup at UP.Labs – California

UP.Labs is hiring a hands-on Head of Engineering for a stealth startup building an AI-powered aftermarket OS for OEMs. We’re creating a platform that combines specialized vertical AI, predictive analytics, and real-time optimization to help manufacturers and distributors place the right parts in the right place at the right time - eliminating costly downtime and lost revenue.
As the first engineering leader, you’ll own architecture, data infrastructure, and team building for a platform that brings together demand forecasting, network optimization, pricing intelligence, and fulfillment orchestration. You’ll remain hands-on early, build the technical foundation from scratch, and set the long-term technical direction as we scale.
You’ll also have access to the UP.Partners ecosystem - a world-class team across product, engineering, design, analytics, marketing, legal, talent, finance, and venture capital to help accelerate execution.
In this role, you will:

• Lead and grow the engineering team, balancing hands-on development with strategic leadership.
• Architect and own the core platform, including data pipelines, AI/ML integration layers, and scalable cloud infrastructure.
• Build robust integrations with OEM ERP/DMS systems to ingest and operationalize complex parts, inventory, and pricing data.
• Partner with Product and Data Science to translate messy real-world aftermarket workflows into intelligent, automated systems.
• Drive best practices around security, CI/CD, observability, testing, and documentation.
• Establish the technical vision for AI-driven demand forecasting, predictive placement, and closed-loop execution.
• Manage and mentor distributed contributors (including nearshore/offshore teams) to build a high-performance engineering culture.
• Deliver quick MVP iterations while laying the foundation for enterprise scale.

Who you are:

• A technical leader who thrives at the intersection of AI, data, and enterprise SaaS.
• Hands-on and detail-oriented, comfortable writing code, reviewing PRs, and guiding architecture.
• Skilled at integrating complex enterprise data systems (ERP/DMS, supply chain, pricing engines).
• Experienced building products that combine data infrastructure with applied machine learning.
• A collaborative partner who can work closely with product, data science, and business stakeholders.
• Capable of thriving in ambiguous, high-growth startup environments and scaling teams from 0→1 and beyond.

You should have:

• 8+ years in software engineering, including 4+ years leading small, high-output teams.
• Strong backend or full-stack background and ability to remain hands-on.
• Proven experience scaling B2B SaaS platforms with real-time data pipelines and system integrations.
• Expertise in cloud architecture, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and distributed systems.
• Experience working with AI/ML platforms (e.g., predictive models, optimization engines, LLM copilots).
• Familiarity with ERP/CRM/DMS integrations -SAP experience is a plus.
• Experience leading or managing distributed teams (nearshore/offshore).
• Knowledge of supply chain, aftermarket, or manufacturing systems (nice-to-have).

Why Join Us:

• Build and lead the engineering organization for a high-growth AI startup from day one.
• Shape a category-defining platform at the intersection of aftermarket logistics, predictive AI, and enterprise SaaS.
• Collaborate with UP.Labs, OEM partners, and investors to drive real impact in a $20–30B+ market.
• Earn meaningful equity in a company positioned to transform how OEMs generate and protect revenue.

About UP.Labs:We build high-growth technology startups that enable faster, cleaner, and safer movement of people and goods. Our platform is unique in three ways:

• Risk: We reward our entire team and ecosystem of partners with meaningful equity.
• Technology: We build and launch scalable technology products that form the basis for each venture.
• Industry Focus: We stay focused on the underlying fabric of retail mobility.

We work with corporate investors over a multi-year period to launch a portfolio of ventures. Our team is dedicated to the first year of a new venture’s life cycle: from ideation to MVP build - and beyond.