Technical Lead, AI and Engineering, HBS Foundry

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

HBS Foundry is building a scalable, AI‑enabled platform that helps founders turn ideas into real ventures. As a Tech Lead, you’ll play a key role in shaping the core architecture and AI infrastructure, with real ownership over how the platform is designed, built, and scaled.

We’re a small, collaborative team working within Harvard Business School, combining the focus and momentum of a startup with a mission‑driven setting. You’ll have the space to make thoughtful technical decisions, work hands‑on with production AI systems, and see your work have direct impact for founders.

If you’re excited by building durable systems, leading by example, and applying AI in practical, responsible ways, Foundry offers a chance to do meaningful technical work in a setting that values craft, clarity, and impact.

Lead development and implementation of complex information technology projects and architecture to solve problems with wide impact, requiring high levels of functional integration.

The Technical Lead acts as the primary architectural authority and engineering manager for the HBS Foundry platform. This hands‑on role is responsible for architecting scalable technical solutions, managing the engineering team, and working closely with the Product Team and Business Leadership to build AI‑powered tools that deliver measurable value.

• Architect, design, and provide hands‑on contribution to the development and deployment of scalable, secure, and maintainable technical solutions that support business goals and product initiatives.
• Make technical design choices and follow technical standards, including cyber security, software languages, tools, and infrastructure.
• Balance fast, lean innovation with practical implementation, technical feasibility, technical debt, and system stability in production environments.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies and determine their applicability to platform needs and understand risk mitigation strategies.

• Manage the engineering team in alignment with product roadmap and critical deadlines.
• Translate business and product requirements into detailed technical specs and engineering tasks.
• Mentor software developers, conduct code reviews, and ensure high‑quality coding.
• Oversee the software product development lifecycle, including MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and release management, as well as data pipelines, and governance.

• Partner with the Product Team, Designers, and Business Director to align on strategic priorities, estimate development effort, and define timelines.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and trade‑offs to non‑technical stakeholders including executives and customers.

• Ensure responsible data management and AI practices (fairness, transparency, and data privacy) and ensure governance frameworks for AI model deployment and monitoring.
• Navigate regulatory requirements, security needs, and compliance consideration.

• Build trust and collaboration by being present on‑site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
• This role is responsible for other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of seven years’ post‑secondary education or relevant work experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of Software Engineering (ideally AI‑focused) experience, including 2+ years in a Lead Engineer, Architect, or equivalent technical leadership role

• Application & Product Engineering
  • Modern web application architecture, including frontend, middleware, backend, and full‑stack development
  • Languages and frameworks…