Founding Director of Engineering
Entrepreneurial Leadership | Ownership Mindset | Remote-First
This Is Not a Job. It’s a Founder Opportunity.
We are a Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and AI-enabled systems integration professional services firm in the early stages of growth, building a progressive organization designed around technical excellence, autonomy, and long-term value creation.
We are seeking a Founding Director of Engineering who thinks like an entrepreneur—not an employee. This role is intended for an engineering leader who wants to design and scale engineering systems, standards, and delivery models from zero, influence company direction, and participate in a contributor-based ownership model rather than a traditional hierarchy.
There is no initial salary by design. This is a low-risk, flexible founder role, intended to be built alongside existing professional work. As the company grows, ownership, equity participation, and compensation pathways will be structured based on contribution, impact, and clearly defined milestones.
Role Structure & Legal Status
This is a founder-level, equity-based leadership role and not a traditional W-2 employment position at inception.
The Founding Director of Engineering will initially participate under an advisory/executive services arrangement, designed to comply with applicable labor, employment, and federal contracting laws.
Ownership & Equity Framework
Ownership participation is earned through contribution and impact, with equity structured around clearly defined technical, operational, and business milestones, vesting schedules, and governance protections.
How We Work
- Remote-first, outcome-driven environment
- Four-day workweek (long-term vision toward three-day workweeks)
- High autonomy, high accountability
- No micromanagement, no time clocks
What You Will Build
As a founding executive, you will architect and lead the engineering foundation of the company, including:
- Engineering strategy aligned with business and client needs
- Systems and solution architecture across engineering domains
- AI-enabled system integration and automation frameworks
- Engineering standards, toolchains, and best practices
- Secure, scalable, and audit-ready engineering solutions
- Cross-functional collaboration with technology, data, and operations leadership
You won’t inherit technical debt—you’ll define the engineering blueprint.
Ideal Founder Profile
- 10+ years of engineering experience
- Prior experience at the Director level or equivalent technical leadership role
- Background in engineering disciplines relevant to systems integration (software, systems, computer, or related fields)
- Demonstrated understanding of AI-enabled systems, automation, or advanced analytics
- Entrepreneurial mindset: builder, systems thinker, problem-solver
Selection Process
This opportunity is not about chasing a title or climbing a ladder. It’s about building something durable, technically sound, and mission-driven—from the ground up.
The screening process will consist of three phases.
Phase 1: Candidates must submit their resume or CV to jbolden@cbridgeautomation.com
Phase 2: Selected candidates will complete an online character-based assessment.
Phase 3: The two finalists will participate in an in-person panel interview.
If you’re curious, let’s talk. No pressure. No obligation. Just an honest conversation about whether this founder journey makes sense for you.