Applied AI Engineer

Automattic Inc

New York, NY

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$70,000–$170,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Application Programming Interface (API), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog, Develop and Maintain Customers, Diversity, Ecosystems, Fundraising, GitHub, Machine Learning, Open Source, PHP Scripting Language (PHP Hypertext Preprocessor), Product Shipments, Prototyping, React.js, Sales, Startup, Team Player, Technical Leadership, Technical Writing, Technical/Engineering Design, United States Military, User Interface/Experience (UI/UX), Wordpress, eCommerce
LOCATION
New York, NY
POSTED
30+ days ago

Job Title: AI Engineer

Location: Global (Remote or in-person in NYC)

About This Opportunity

We're looking for exceptional AI engineers who've shipped breakthrough products that millions actually use. The kind of people who don't just integrate APIs, they build features users love. You'll work with Automattic's ecosystem, spanning WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, Beeper, Clay, and more. If you're in NYC, you'll collaborate in-person with our AI team. If you're distributed, you'll work the way Automattic has for 20 years: asynchronously, transparently, with a focus on impact over hours. This is about working on fascinating problems at scale with the backing of a profitable, mission-driven company. Whether you're embedding with Other Bets teams, helping existing products leverage AI, or exploring new opportunities with our data and distribution, you'll have the resources and reach to build things that matter to millions.

Why This Role Matters

Shape how AI transforms products used by hundreds of millions of people across the planet, from helping creators tell better stories to empowering merchants to compete effectively. You'll tackle fascinating challenges across our entire ecosystem-with the backing of a profitable, mission-driven company. Whether you're working in-person in NYC or distributed globally, you'll have the autonomy to focus on high-impact work without the typical constraints of startups (fundraising pressure, runway anxiety) or large tech companies (bureaucracy, slow decision-making).

What You'll Do

  • Ship user-facing AI features across Automattic's product ecosystem; from site building tools to ecommerce recommendations to messaging experiences.
  • Build and iterate rapidly on AI-powered products that directly impact millions of users.
  • Collaborate with PMs, designers, and engineers (in-person in NYC or distributed globally) in a fast-paced environment optimized for innovation.
  • Experiment and scale successful AI innovations from prototype to production across multiple products.
  • Embed with teams to work on products such as WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Jetpack, Clay, Beeper, Pocket Casts, etc.
  • Stay current with AI developments that unlock new user experiences.

You'll Thrive Here

If You Have shipped AI features that users actually use. Production experience is valued over theoretical knowledge. Are exceptionally talented. Are strong across the stack OR deeply expert in your domain. We value both breadth and depth. Move fast without breaking things. Prototype quickly while building for scale. Think product-first. You know great AI is invisible to users; it just makes their experience better. Work well in distributed teams or love in-person collaboration if you're NYC-based. Are drawn to working with other exceptional people rather than just seeking comfortable work environments.

Technical Experience

We Value:

  • Production experience with LLMs (APIs or custom implementations) at meaningful scale.
  • Strong full-stack development (we use PHP, Typescript, and React, primarily).
  • Building AI-powered user interfaces that perform well at scale.
  • Machine learning fundamentals and staying current with rapid field developments.
  • Track record of technical leadership or influence on high-performing teams.

Bonus Points

  • Developed consumer AI products that scaled to a significant number of users.
  • Experience with WordPress, ecommerce, or messaging platforms.
  • Open source contributions showing your thinking.
  • Previous startup experience as a founder or early engineer.
  • Based in NYC or willing to relocate (strong preference, but not required).

Salary Range

$70,000 to $170,000 USD. Please note that salary ranges are global, regardless of location, and we pay in local currency.

About Automattic

Now in our 20th year, we're the people behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, Simplenote, Jetpack, Longreads, Day One, PocketCasts, Beeper, and more. We believe in making the web a better place. We're a distributed company with more than 1400 Automatticians in nearly every corner of the globe, speaking over a hundred different languages. Enriched by this diversity, we're united by a singular mission: to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging so anyone with a story can tell it, anyone with a product can sell it, and everyone can manage their communications from a single source.

Benefits and Culture

We are a Most Loved Company and Disability Confident Committed. Learn more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion and our Employee Resource Groups. If you need disability-related accommodations during the application or interview process, please fill out this form. We are committed to ensuring an accessible hiring process for all candidates. To learn about how we handle your data, please review our Privacy Policy.

How to Apply

Apply Now

Job Details

2 Open positions

Application Form

First Name Last Name Preferred First Name Email Phone Location Resume/CV (File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf) Cover Letter (File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)

Additional Questions

Do you have WordPress or PHP experience? This is highly valuable for this role. *Please selectYes, significant WordPress experience (themes, plugins, or core)Yes, significant PHP experience (production systems)Yes, both WordPress and PHP experienceSome WordPress or PHP experienceNo WordPress or PHP experience, willing to learnNo WordPress or PHP experience, not interested

If you have experience: Years, what youve built, scale youve worked at, modern vs. legacy PHP. If you dont have experience: Whats your primary stack? Why are you interested in working with WordPress/PHP despite this gap? What relevant experience do you have? Provide links demonstrating your work (at least one required): GitHub profile:Portfolio or personal site:Technical writing (blog, papers, talks):Open source contributions: Describe the AI feature youre most proud of shipping: Include: What did it do? How many users? Your role? Biggest technical and product challenges? What did you learn that would surprise most AI engineers? Why Automattic specifically? What about this opportunity is different from other AI roles? This role can be based in NYC (in-person) or globally distributed. Whats your preference? Please selectI prefer NYC working in-person (Im based there or willing to relocate)I prefer to work distributed/remotelyIm flexible and would consider eitherOther (explain below) Follow-up (if "Other"): Please explain your situation and preferences. How did you hear about this role? Please selectAutomattic Employee (please specify below)RecruiterWordPress UserI saw this job on LinkedInWordCampTumblrHTTP Header/X-hackerPowerToFlyStackOverflowGlassdoorGoogleTikTok/YouTube videoOther If you selected "Automattic Employee" or "Other" above, can you tell us more? Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If so, please provide a link. Have you reviewed the compensation details (salary range) provided in the job description above? Read more about our compensation philosophy here. Please indicate your salary expectation for this role. * Voluntary Self-Identification

Disability Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file. As set forth in Automattic's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Disability Self-Identification Form

Race Please selectDecline To Self IdentifyTwo or More RacesNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderWhiteHispanic or LatinoBlack or African AmericanAsianAmerican Indian or Alaskan Native Gender Please selectDecline To Self IdentifyFemaleMale

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veterans discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. Veteran Status Please selectI dont wish to answerI identify as one or more of the classifications of a protected veteranI am not a protected veteran

Public Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. Not finding the right opportunity? Check out our interest forms and register your details. We are always open to talented people who would like to join Automattic. Get in touch

About the Company

A

Automattic Inc