Kestrel Labs (Techstars '25)
Founding Head of Engineering
Kestrel Labs (Techstars '25), Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285
Co-Founder & CEO | Kestrel Labs, Techstars ‘25 | Intelligent code compliance for the built world
Founding Head of Engineering Kestrel Labs – Denver, CO About Us
Kestrel Labs is a fast-moving startup building AI-powered tools that help architects and design professionals navigate building codes and regulations with precision and speed. Our mission is to eliminate bottlenecks in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Owner (AECO) industry so that creative and technical talent can focus on what they do best. Our first product transforms compliance review from a manual bottleneck into an intelligent, real-time design companion. We\u2019re in Techstars Boston 2025, venture backed, and active design partnerships with industry leaders. The Role We’re hiring a
Head of Engineering
to join the founding team. This is a
hands-on leadership role
responsible for owning the stack, system architecture, and engineering velocity. You\u2019ll work side-by-side with our founders and an offshore development team in Hungary to translate complex real-world problems into robust, elegant software, delivering at startup speed. This is a flexible hybrid role based out of our Denver office. Key Responsibilities
Product Architecture & Technical Leadership
Own and evolve the technical architecture and roadmap for our AI-first SaaS platform, including LLM-based tools, rules engines, and integrations with 3rd party software tools Select core technologies, development frameworks, and establish code quality standards Lead development from prototype through production release
Software Development & Delivery
Drive product delivery with agile processes, sprint planning, and release cycles Work cross-functionally to translate complex AEC workflows into intuitive, high-utility product experiences aligned with business goals Maintain a bias toward simplicity, iteration, and fast feedback loops
Team Building & Engineering Leadership
Evolve and build the engineering team through feedback and mentoring Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation Serve as both hands-on contributor and team architect
Infrastructure, Security & Operations
Build and manage CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices Operational accountability over system uptime, MTTR, performance/monitoring, and incident response Ensure product and data security compliance and governance, including access controls and auditability
Who You Are
You’re a strong generalist who has built real software, owned projects end-to-end, and helped teams move fast without breaking things. You don\u2019t need to have seen every challenge before—but you know how to ask the right questions, cut through complexity, and get things over the finish line. We’re looking for someone who is: Execution-focused:
You’re comfortable taking ownership and delivering full-stack software in early-stage environments. Leadership-ready:
You’ve either led teams or are clearly on a path to do so. You support others, and don\u2019t wait for permission to move. Product-oriented:
You care deeply about the user experience and the practical impact of your work. Adaptable and pragmatic:
You can balance speed, quality, and technical debt while staying focused on business outcomes. Collaborative:
You know how to work with founders, interface with external dev teams, and keep things on track without drama. Bonus Experience
We care more about mindset and capability than any specific resume line. That said, we use the following systems and tools, so experience with the following is a plus: AI/LLM systems and tools Cloud infrastructure (GCP, AWS), CI/CD, and DevOps Security best practices for enterprise SaaS Developer tools, regulatory software, or the AEC industry, C#/.NET/Revit experience Working with or managing offshore dev teams Why Join Us?
We\u2019re building real, technically challenging infrastructure, not just an AI wrapper, and want you to feel like you can do the best work of your life here. Salary range:
$160,000–$200,000 depending on experience and equity mix Equity:
Significant early equity with meaningful upside Location:
Denver/Boulder-based role with flexible hybrid expectations (~1–2 days in person per week) Benefits:
Health, dental, and life insurance; 401(k) with company contribution; generous PTO Ownership:
Lead engineering from the ground up and grow into a long-term executive or founding CTO Impact:
Build software that solves painful, expensive problems in a $22B+ global market Access:
Work directly with industry expert founders, early pilot customers, and an engaged dev team Momentum:
Backed by leading firms, accepted to top-tier programs (Techstars Boston 2025, Trimble 0-60, DenAI Summit), and preparing for a national product launch Seniority level
Director Employment type
Full-time Job function
Engineering and Information Technology Industries Technology, Information and Internet Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Kestrel Labs (Techstars '25) by 2x Get notified about new Head of Engineering jobs in Denver, CO. We\u2019re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
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Founding Head of Engineering Kestrel Labs – Denver, CO About Us
Kestrel Labs is a fast-moving startup building AI-powered tools that help architects and design professionals navigate building codes and regulations with precision and speed. Our mission is to eliminate bottlenecks in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Owner (AECO) industry so that creative and technical talent can focus on what they do best. Our first product transforms compliance review from a manual bottleneck into an intelligent, real-time design companion. We\u2019re in Techstars Boston 2025, venture backed, and active design partnerships with industry leaders. The Role We’re hiring a
Head of Engineering
to join the founding team. This is a
hands-on leadership role
responsible for owning the stack, system architecture, and engineering velocity. You\u2019ll work side-by-side with our founders and an offshore development team in Hungary to translate complex real-world problems into robust, elegant software, delivering at startup speed. This is a flexible hybrid role based out of our Denver office. Key Responsibilities
Product Architecture & Technical Leadership
Own and evolve the technical architecture and roadmap for our AI-first SaaS platform, including LLM-based tools, rules engines, and integrations with 3rd party software tools Select core technologies, development frameworks, and establish code quality standards Lead development from prototype through production release
Software Development & Delivery
Drive product delivery with agile processes, sprint planning, and release cycles Work cross-functionally to translate complex AEC workflows into intuitive, high-utility product experiences aligned with business goals Maintain a bias toward simplicity, iteration, and fast feedback loops
Team Building & Engineering Leadership
Evolve and build the engineering team through feedback and mentoring Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation Serve as both hands-on contributor and team architect
Infrastructure, Security & Operations
Build and manage CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices Operational accountability over system uptime, MTTR, performance/monitoring, and incident response Ensure product and data security compliance and governance, including access controls and auditability
Who You Are
You’re a strong generalist who has built real software, owned projects end-to-end, and helped teams move fast without breaking things. You don\u2019t need to have seen every challenge before—but you know how to ask the right questions, cut through complexity, and get things over the finish line. We’re looking for someone who is: Execution-focused:
You’re comfortable taking ownership and delivering full-stack software in early-stage environments. Leadership-ready:
You’ve either led teams or are clearly on a path to do so. You support others, and don\u2019t wait for permission to move. Product-oriented:
You care deeply about the user experience and the practical impact of your work. Adaptable and pragmatic:
You can balance speed, quality, and technical debt while staying focused on business outcomes. Collaborative:
You know how to work with founders, interface with external dev teams, and keep things on track without drama. Bonus Experience
We care more about mindset and capability than any specific resume line. That said, we use the following systems and tools, so experience with the following is a plus: AI/LLM systems and tools Cloud infrastructure (GCP, AWS), CI/CD, and DevOps Security best practices for enterprise SaaS Developer tools, regulatory software, or the AEC industry, C#/.NET/Revit experience Working with or managing offshore dev teams Why Join Us?
We\u2019re building real, technically challenging infrastructure, not just an AI wrapper, and want you to feel like you can do the best work of your life here. Salary range:
$160,000–$200,000 depending on experience and equity mix Equity:
Significant early equity with meaningful upside Location:
Denver/Boulder-based role with flexible hybrid expectations (~1–2 days in person per week) Benefits:
Health, dental, and life insurance; 401(k) with company contribution; generous PTO Ownership:
Lead engineering from the ground up and grow into a long-term executive or founding CTO Impact:
Build software that solves painful, expensive problems in a $22B+ global market Access:
Work directly with industry expert founders, early pilot customers, and an engaged dev team Momentum:
Backed by leading firms, accepted to top-tier programs (Techstars Boston 2025, Trimble 0-60, DenAI Summit), and preparing for a national product launch Seniority level
Director Employment type
Full-time Job function
Engineering and Information Technology Industries Technology, Information and Internet Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Kestrel Labs (Techstars '25) by 2x Get notified about new Head of Engineering jobs in Denver, CO. We\u2019re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr