Technical Director - AI Research & Product (Fractional → Full-time)

$72,000/year ($6,000/month, ~24 hrs/week fractional)

+ 3-4% (4-year vest with 1-year cliff)

We're hiring our first technical leader to architect and execute two parallel workstreams: (1) experimental AI embodiment research with defense applications, and (2) AI-powered product development.

About the Role

About MxP Studio

MxP Studio is a DC-based innovation platform combining strategic advisory (MxP Labs), experimental AI research, and product incubation. We're well-capitalized ($300K initial funding) with partnerships spanning NDIA, Station DC, and emerging relationships with NVIDIA, Google, and AWS.

Our research focuses on AI embodiment and behavioral responses in terminal scenarios, with applications to defense autonomous systems. We're simultaneously building Project Nexus, an AI-powered thought leadership platform.

The Opportunity

We're hiring our first technical leader to architect and execute two parallel workstreams: (1) experimental AI embodiment research with defense applications, and (2) AI-powered product development. This is a founding team role with significant autonomy, equity, and opportunity to publish peer‑reviewed research.

What You'll Do

AI Research - MxP Labs (60% of time)

Lead Technical Execution of AI Embodiment Research

Design and implement edge‑based LLM deployments on physical devices

Integrate sensors (cameras, accelerometers, GPS) and develop data collection pipelines

Analyze behavioral patterns and AI responses under terminal conditions

Collaborate with corporate partners on hardware integration

Co‑author peer‑reviewed research publications

Specific Research Focus: Testing how LLMs with situational awareness respond when deployed on physical devices facing destruction. Applications include:

• AI safety and alignment research
• Emergency response robotics
• Critical infrastructure protection

Research Partnership: Work directly with graduate students who will conduct experimental implementation as part of their capstone research. You'll provide technical direction, methodology oversight, and co‑authorship on resulting publications.

Product Development - Project Nexus (30% of time)

Provide Technical Architecture Oversight

Guide product development roadmap and technical decisions

Ensure quality, scalability, and security standards

Review code and architectural decisions

Support go‑to‑market technical requirements

Evaluate and integrate third‑party AI/LLM APIs

Note: Project Nexus has external development resources, so your role is architectural oversight and strategic technical guidance rather than hands‑on coding.

Advisory Technical Delivery (10% of time)

Support High‑Value Client Engagements

Provide technical oversight for advisory engagements requiring specialized expertise

Ensure quality delivery on client AI transformation projects

Build technical delivery partner network

Contribute to thought leadership content (technical blog posts, whitepapers)

What Success Looks Like

Month 3 (from start date)

• Labs POC designed and in development with University teams
• Project Nexus technical roadmap defined and validated
• First experimental drop executed successfully
• Hardware partnerships activated for equipment sourcing

Month 6

• Labs research producing analyzable results
• Multiple experimental runs completed with comprehensive data collection
• Project Nexus in market with paying customers
• Academic paper drafted for peer review submission

Month 12

• Peer‑reviewed publication accepted or published
• Labs program fully operational and externally funded
• Project Nexus technical foundation scaling reliably
• Follow‑on research initiatives scoped and partnership discussions underway

Who You Are

Required Experience & Skills

• 7+ years software engineering experience with 3+ years in AI/ML
• Deep understanding of LLMs – architecture, deployment, fine‑tuning, API integration
• Edge computing and AI deployment – resource‑constrained environments, optimization
• Hardware integration experience – sensors, embedded systems, IoT devices
• Strong Python proficiency – familiar with ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.)
• Research mindset – comfortable with experimental design and scientific methodology
• Track record of shipping – built and deployed products or research systems

Ideal Additional Experience

• Published research – peer‑reviewed papers, conference presentations
• Defense/aerospace applications – rugged hardware, mission‑critical systems
• Autonomous systems or robotics – embodied AI, physical world interaction
• Startup or early‑stage experience – comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration
• Academic collaboration – worked with university researchers or grad students
• Grant proposal writing – technical sections of SBIR/STTR or NSF proposals

Cultural Fit

• Intellectually curious – excited by novel research questions
• Comfortable with ambiguity – early‑stage means figuring things out
• Balances rigor and speed – academic quality + startup execution pace
• Collaborative – works well with non‑technical stakeholders
• Mission‑driven – passionate about AI safety and defense applications

Compensation & Equity

Our Philosophy:

We structure founding team roles as equity‑heavy with competitive‑to‑below‑market base salaries. We want people excited about building something meaningful and earning ownership.

Base Salary: $72,000/year ($6,000/month, ~24 hrs/week fractional)

Equity: 3-4% (4-year vest with 1-year cliff)

Conversion Opportunity: Full‑time role at $120-150K base when scaling

Total Year 1 Compensation Potential: $110-140K (Base + equity value)

What this means:

Fractional start allows you to maintain other commitments

Meaningful founding team equity (3-4%) with real upside potential

Conversion to full‑time as company scales and secures additional funding

Opportunity to build both research credentials and product experience

What this means:

We're paying below‑market base because you're getting meaningful founding team equity

Your upside comes from commission on deals you close AND equity appreciation

This is structured for someone who believes in the vision and wants ownership, not just a paycheck

If you perform, you'll convert to full‑time with significantly higher base

Why We Share Compensation Publicly:

We believe transparency attracts the right people. Our roles are equity‑heavy and mission‑driven – we'd rather you know that upfront than waste your time (or ours) if the structure doesn't fit what you're looking for.

Why This Role

Founding Technical Leadership: Shape technical direction from day one

Research + Product Balance: Experimental R&D + commercial development

Defense Applications: Meaningful work on AI safety for autonomous systems

Equity Stake: 3-4% ownership in growing company

Flexibility: Fractional start, full‑time conversion as company scales

Network Access: NDIA, ETI, Station DC, DIU, DARPA connections

Publication Opportunities: Co‑author papers, build academic credibility

To Apply

Send resume, GitHub/portfolio, and brief cover letter (max 250 words) to with subject line "Technical Director - (Your Name)"

In your cover letter, answer:

• What's the most interesting technical problem you've solved? (Brief description + your approach)
• Why does AI embodiment research excite you?
• How do you balance research rigor with startup execution speed?

Portfolio/GitHub (encouraged but not required):

Link to relevant projects, papers, or code samples

Anything that demonstrates your technical depth and research thinking

Applications reviewed on rolling basis starting January 15, 2026.

MxP Studio is an equal opportunity employer. We're building a diverse team and strongly encourage applications from underrepresented backgrounds in tech and defense research.