AI Engineer

The AI Engineer is responsible for designing, planning, and enabling the development of AI-powered systems that support Dark Alpha Capital’s investment platform and internal operations.

Unlike a traditional machine learning engineer or software developer, this role focuses on architecting agentic systems, defining implementation strategies, and producing the technical documentation that enables AI coding agents and engineering teams to efficiently build scalable solutions.

The AI Engineer works closely with business stakeholders, Technical Project Managers, and software engineers to translate business problems into structured implementation plans, technical specifications, markdown documentation, agent workflows, and system architectures.

Success in this role requires a strong understanding of modern AI ecosystems, large language models, retrieval systems, AI agents, workflow orchestration, prompt engineering, context management, and AI-assisted software development. The ideal candidate understands not only how AI systems are built, but how autonomous AI development workflows operate and how to leverage them to accelerate engineering execution., AI Solution Architecture

• Design AI-powered systems that support investment operations, automation, research, internal tooling, and workflow optimization.
• Translate business requirements into scalable AI architectures and implementation strategies.
• Define system components, workflows, integrations, data requirements, and technical dependencies before development begins.
• Evaluate multiple technical approaches and recommend scalable long-term solutions.

Agentic System Design

• Design multi-agent workflows capable of completing complex operational tasks.
• Define agent responsibilities, communication patterns, memory strategies, tool usage, and orchestration logic.
• Develop reusable architectures for autonomous and semi-autonomous AI systems.
• Continuously evaluate emerging agent frameworks and best practices.

Technical Planning & Documentation

• Produce comprehensive implementation documentation using Markdown and other technical documentation standards.
• Create Product Requirement Documents (PRDs), Technical Design Documents (TDDs), implementation plans, architecture documentation, task breakdowns, and engineering specifications.
• Develop execution plans that enable engineering teams and AI coding agents to efficiently build production-ready systems.
• Maintain documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

AI-Assisted Engineering

• Utilize AI coding assistants and autonomous development agents to accelerate software development.
• Structure development tasks for AI-assisted implementation.
• Review AI-generated code for correctness, maintainability, scalability, and alignment with project requirements.
• Continuously refine AI development workflows to improve engineering productivity.

Research & Evaluation

• Stay current with advancements in large language models, agent frameworks, retrieval systems, vector databases, prompt engineering, and AI infrastructure.
• Evaluate new tools, frameworks, and platforms for potential adoption within the firm’s technology stack.
• Recommend improvements to internal AI capabilities and engineering practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Technology, Operations, Deal Team, Capital Markets, Recruiting, Legal, and other departments to identify opportunities for AI-driven improvements.
• Translate operational challenges into structured AI initiatives.
• Work alongside Technical Project Managers and software engineers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support business stakeholders in understanding AI capabilities and implementation considerations.

Continuous Improvement

• Standardize documentation, planning methodologies, and AI engineering practices across the Technology Department.
• Develop reusable templates, implementation frameworks, and architectural patterns.
• Improve internal development processes through automation, AI-assisted planning, and knowledge management.
• Contribute to the evolution of the firm’s AI strategy and technology roadmap., * Standard office hours (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST) with flexibility to support business priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Fully remote role with regular collaboration across Technology, Operations, Investments, and other business functions.
• Frequent use of AI development platforms, documentation systems, version control, coding agents, and engineering collaboration tools.
• Performance is measured through the quality of technical planning, implementation documentation, AI solution architecture, engineering enablement, and contribution to the firm’s AI capabilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 2-5+ years of experience building, designing, or implementing AI-powered applications, software systems, or automation platforms.
• Strong understanding of modern AI ecosystems, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), embeddings, vector databases, prompt engineering, and agentic workflows.
• Experience utilizing AI coding assistants and AI-assisted software development workflows.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills with the ability to produce detailed implementation plans and technical specifications.
• Ability to decompose complex business problems into structured engineering tasks.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple departments.

Preferred

• Experience with frameworks such as LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, OpenAI Agents SDK, or similar agent orchestration platforms.
• Experience with Python, FastAPI, APIs, databases, cloud infrastructure, and workflow automation tools.
• Familiarity with MCP (Model Context Protocol), context engineering, prompt chaining, and tool-calling architectures.
• Experience building internal AI platforms, automation systems, or knowledge management solutions.
• Understanding of software architecture, system design, and scalable engineering practices.
• Exposure to financial services, private equity, investment operations, or enterprise workflow automation.

Skills and Competencies

• AI Systems Architecture: Ability to design scalable AI-powered solutions that align technical implementation with business objectives.
• Agentic Engineering: Strong understanding of multi-agent systems, orchestration strategies, context management, tool integration, and autonomous workflows.
• Technical Planning & Documentation: Exceptional ability to produce structured implementation plans, architecture documentation, markdown specifications, and engineering roadmaps that guide both developers and AI coding agents.
• AI-Assisted Development: Proficiency in leveraging AI coding assistants and autonomous engineering workflows to accelerate software delivery while maintaining quality and technical consistency.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to analyze complex business processes, identify automation opportunities, and design scalable technology solutions.
• Research & Innovation: Continuously evaluates emerging AI technologies, frameworks, and methodologies to improve the firm’s technical capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to communicate effectively with executives, technical teams, and business stakeholders while translating operational objectives into technical execution plans.
• Ownership & Execution: Demonstrates accountability, initiative, attention to detail, and a bias toward delivering practical, high-quality solutions.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively develops reusable standards, templates, frameworks, and engineering practices that improve productivity across the Technology Department.
• Professional Judgment & Confidentiality: Maintains discretion, professionalism, and ethical handling of proprietary business information, technical assets, and internal systems.

Reporting Structure and Work Environment

Structure: Performance-Based Success Fee Only

Terms: No salary, retainer, hourly compensation, milestone payments, or guaranteed compensation.

Dark Alpha Capital is an independent sponsor investment firm focused on acquiring and investing in lower middle market businesses across a range of industries. We partner with business owners, management teams, family offices, financial institutions, and institutional investors to identify, evaluate, and execute private market investment opportunities that create long-term value.

Our approach combines disciplined transaction execution, operational excellence, and technology-driven innovation. Artificial intelligence is a core component of our operating model, enabling us to build scalable internal systems that improve investment sourcing, operational workflows, data intelligence, automation, and decision-making across the firm.

The Technology Department develops proprietary AI-powered platforms, agentic workflows, internal automation systems, and operational tooling that support every department within the firm. Rather than purchasing off-the-shelf software, we design and continuously improve systems tailored to the firm’s investment platform and long-term strategic objectives.

We value ownership, intellectual curiosity, technical excellence, and a bias toward execution. Team members are given meaningful responsibility, direct exposure to strategic initiatives, and the opportunity to help define how artificial intelligence transforms the future of private equity operations., The AI Engineer will be eligible to receive a 1.5% Success Fee of Net Closing Transaction Fees generated by transactions successfully closed by the firm. Compensation is funded exclusively from transaction-related revenues received by the Company and is contingent upon a successful closing.

This role contributes to the firm’s ability to scale its investment platform by designing AI systems, enabling autonomous software development, improving engineering execution, and building the technical foundation that powers proprietary automation and operational intelligence.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Dark Alpha Capital LLC is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace where individuals are evaluated based on their qualifications, performance, integrity, and ability to contribute to the firm’s success. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and team members and make employment-related decisions without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

As a growing investment firm, our business priorities, organizational structure, and operational needs may evolve over time. Accordingly, this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or expectations. Responsibilities may be added, modified, or reassigned to meet the changing needs of the business, and team members may be asked to support cross-functional initiatives that contribute to the firm’s overall objectives.

Employment with Dark Alpha Capital is governed by the terms and conditions outlined in the applicable employment or independent contractor agreement. Nothing in this job description constitutes or should be interpreted as a guarantee of employment, compensation, specific duties, or continued engagement.