AI / Machine Learning Lead (fast track to CTO)

8X Energy | AI / Machine Learning Lead (fast track to CTO) | Frederick MD or Remote | Equity We are building the AI-powered energy decision infrastructure SaaS for the commercial energy transition. USPTO non-provisional patent pending on the core methodology. Live pilot project underway at a Maryland nonprofit technology incubator. The company is pre-investment. We are in active seed raise discussions and have enterprise pilot confirmations from Pharmaceutical, Electric Companies, National Energy trading platforms, and federal agencies. What we need: An AI and machine learning lead who has shipped production SaaS before. Not a researcher. Not a consultant. Someone who has taken software from prototype to deployed, maintained it in production, and knows what breaks when real users engage. You should be comfortable with the full stack from model development through deployment and understand what it means to build AI systems that need to be auditable, accurate, and defensible in a regulated environment. Energy domain experience is a plus but not required. The ability to learn a domain fast is required. Specific experience we are looking for: You have built and deployed at least one production AI or ML system that real customers use today. You have legacy software development capability meaning you can work in an existing codebase, not just greenfield. You understand the difference between a model that performs well in testing and a system that works reliably in production. You have led or been a senior contributor on a SaaS product from architecture through deployment. You are comfortable working with a non-technical founder CEO and translating business requirements into technical specifications without waiting for someone to tell you exactly what to build. The role: You would be leading the AI and machine learning layer across three energy specific products, working directly with the CEO and the existing development team. The fast track to CTO is real. We need a technical leader, who may be an individual contributor today, and the equity structure reflects that. Compensation: Pre-investment: equity only, 3.5% to 7.5% depending on experience and contribution level, with vesting on a standard 4-year schedule with a 1-year cliff. Post-investment: market-rate salary plus retained equity. We are not asking you to work for free indefinitely. We are asking you to believe in the upside long enough to get to the raise, which is actively in process. Location: Frederick, Maryland preferred. Remote for the right person. T o apply or learn more: Email john.dukes@8xenergy.com with a brief description of the production AI system you are most proud of shipping and why. No recruiters.