Head of Engineering

Tread

Hands-on engineering leader at Tread developing AI-native engineering systems for the construction materials logistics industry. Collaborating closely with the CEO and leading a small engineering team in a hybrid work environment.

Posted 7/13/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $200,000 - $260,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in AI-native software development, engineering leadership, and platform reliability. Proven ability to make strategic decisions regarding build-vs-buy and to drive the AI-native software development lifecycle in high-growth startup environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

AI-Native EngineeringEngineering LeadershipPayments Systems ExperienceTechnical Direction SettingRecruitment of Senior Talent

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software DevelopmentAI InfrastructureRails APIData Layer ManagementPayments Business LogicIncident ResponseData IntegritySecurity PracticesEvaluation Systems DesignBuild-Vs-Buy Decision Making

Soft Skills

Strong Engineering JudgmentThought PartnershipTeam CollaborationHiring InstinctsInterpersonal Skills

Tools & Technologies

AI ToolingDeveloper ToolingPlatform Reliability ToolsPayment Processing Systems

Industry Keywords

High-Growth StartupsSeed StageSeries BSeries CFounder Experience

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Ruby on RailsSDLC

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own engineering execution across product engineering, platform, data, payments, AI infrastructure, internal developer tooling, and the AI-native software development lifecycle.
Recruit top-tier talent and raise our bar for excellence.
Drive the AI-native SDLC forward.
Design and continuously improve evaluation systems for AI-generated software.
Set technical direction across the Rails API, data layer, payments business logic, and clients.
Make build-vs-buy and platform-investment calls that balance speed with long-term leverage.
Own platform reliability and trust posture: uptime, data integrity, payment accuracy, security, and incident response.
Partner closely with the CEO on the product roadmap and serve as a key thought partner.

Requirements

What you’ll need

7-12 years building software, with demonstrated engineering leadership in high-growth startups (Seed–Series B/C) or founder experience.
Background in hypergrowth startups. Ideally Seed through Series C, or founder experience.
Fluent and opinionated about AI-native engineering.
Strong engineering judgment around speed vs. correctness.
Experience operating payments or financial systems at scale.
Deep technical credibility.
Lives in modern AI tooling every day.
Hiring instincts at the senior and staff level.
Engineers who’ve worked with you choose to work with you again.
Eager to work in-person at our San Francisco office 3-5 days/week.

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical
dental
vision
401(k)
unlimited PTO
transportation stipend