Head of Applied AI Engineering

Company Overview: Function Health is the AI operating system for health, designed to empower people to live 100 healthy years. We are redefining how individuals understand, measure, and improve their health by moving beyond reactive care and enabling proactive, data-driven insight into human biology. Function has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024 , and is venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) . Hundreds of thousands of members have joined Function to take control of their health. Through advanced diagnostics, deep biomarker testing, longitudinal data, and AI-enabled insights, Function equips members with actionable intelligence to take control of both the quality and length of their lives. Function recently announced a $298M Series B and is entering its next chapter of growth. As we scale, the quality and durability of our People systems, data, and insights will directly shape our ability to attract, retain, and support exceptional talent. We are growing our team and seeking out world-class talent that deeply believes in our mission to positively impact global health, has a relentless bias toward action, and a growth mindset. Function fosters a collaborative and dynamic environment where every day we build the future. Role: Join Function Health as our Head of AI, where you'll define and execute a cutting-edge AI Infra roadmap, lead advanced research initiatives, and shape the future of health technology. You will collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, mentor a world-class AI team, and apply emerging techniques to solve complex challenges. With a focus on innovation, technical excellence, and impactful solutions, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference in healthcare. This role is best suited for those energized by fast-paced environments, excited to build in a high-growth setting, and deeply motivated by our mission at Function. If you're looking for meaningful challenges, dynamic work, and the opportunity to make a real impact—we’d love to meet you. Key Responsibilities: Strategic AI Leadership and Vision: Define and lead a visionary AI roadmap that drives innovation, integrates cutting-edge research into products, and fosters a culture of strategic problem-solving. Deep Research Orientation: Stay at the forefront of AI advancements, applying emerging techniques like generative AI and knowledge graphs to address challenges and integrate research into practical, impactful solutions. Team Development and Leadership: Mentor and guide a multidisciplinary AI team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and a focus on long-term, research-driven goals. Innovation and Technical Excellence: Lead efforts to ensure AI applications are innovative, trustworthy, and compliant with regulations, while shaping the organization's approach to sustainable AI development. Strategic Planning and Execution: Design and refine a long-term AI roadmap, anticipating market trends and identifying risks and opportunities to keep the company ahead in AI adoption. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with senior leadership, product teams, and domain experts to align AI strategy with business and clinical priorities, effectively communicating strategic direction and research insights. Qualifications/Skills: Expertise: Proven experience as a technical lead managing teams of researchers, data scientists, or engineers, with 10+ years of expertise in data science, deep learning, expert systems, generative AI, and machine learning. Problem-Solving & Innovation: Strong analytical skills with a proven ability to innovate and apply AI creatively to solve complex healthcare problems. Demonstrated expertise in staying ahead of AI trends and leveraging emerging tools to maintain industry leadership. Ethical Understanding: Commitment to developing responsible AI tools, particularly in healthcare, with a strong understanding of and willingness to implement regulations such as HIPAA and relevant data privacy laws. Leadership: Proven ability to drive vision and direction for AI teams, aligning goals with organizational objectives. Experienced in building and leading multidisciplinary teams while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Communication and Teamwork: Proven ability to effectively communicate complex AI concepts to non-technical stakeholders, including executives. Strong collaboration skills with departments such as product development, regulatory affairs, and marketing to align AI solutions with company direction. Nice-to-Have Skills and Experiences: While the core competencies are essential, the following qualifications will distinguish exceptional candidates: Start-Up Experience: We highly value individuals with start-up experience, especially former founders or early engineering hires. This experience indicates a versatile skill set and an ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments. Familiarity with Health Technologies: Knowledge of or experience with popular health technologies, such as Oura, Whoop, Apple Watch, and CGMs (Continuous Glucose Monitors). An interest in or experience with health and wellness technologies suggests a passion for leveraging technology to improve personal and community health outcomes. Multimodal AI Expertise: Knowledge of integrating diverse data types, such as imaging, genomics, text, and sensor data, into AI pipelines for comprehensive solutions. Cloud & Edge AI Deployment: Experience in deploying AI solutions on cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and/or edge devices. Your dedication to these responsibilities will directly contribute to the success of our platform and the satisfaction of our users. We are looking for a proactive, skilled, and forward-thinking individual to join our team and help shape the future of our services. To be a strong fit, you embody our Core Values: Ruthless Prioritization: We don’t let perfect get in the way of progress. We move quickly to drive value, not perfection. We prioritize what drives impact. We never compromise on standards of excellence. Member-First, Always: We design and deliver like we’re caring for someone we love. We create calendar, actionable, human experience. We prioritize responsiveness, peace of mind, and outcomes. We empower members with truth, clarity, and care. One Team, Moving Fast: We are aligned in purpose, prioritization, and speed. We gather diverse perspectives to make informed decisions. We clear paths for each other and move fast together. We communicate clearly and respectfully, rallying around shared goals. Radical Ownership, Relentless Execution: We don’t just ship– we own outcomes and drive results. We act with urgency and precision We anticipate, initiate, and follow through. We meet challenges with grit and pragmatism. We embrace new tech to deliver better outcomes. Mission Over Ego: We are ruthlessly aligned to our mission– and leave ego at the door. We disagree and commit. We don't tolerate politics or withholding information. We operate with honesty, transparency, and respect. Sustained Integrity in Every Detail: We earn trust by obsessing over accuracy, quality, and clarity in everything we do. We prioritize clinical precision– data must be right. We sweat the details because outcomes depend on them. Why You'll Love Working With Us: We value our team at Function and offer a competitive salary and benefits package, flexible working hours, and a dynamic work environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged. If you are a highly motivated and experienced individual who is passionate about using technology to improve people’s lives, we would love to hear from you. At Function, we celebrate diversity and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, ancestry, religion, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, Veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Join the Function Health team and become a part of our mission to build a healthier future for all. Discover more about us and how we're changing the face of healthcare at Function Health . Important Notice: Legitimate communication from the Function Health team will always come from an email address ending in @functionhealth.com . Function Health will never request personal information such as banking details or payment during the hiring process. Please be cautious of communications or job offers that come from other email domains, instant messaging platforms, or unsolicited calls. If you ever have doubts about the legitimacy of a communication, please reach out to us directly at [email protected] .