Founding ML Engineer

We are seeking a senior-level Founding ML Engineer to own the critical system layer that determines if a retrieved profile belongs in a final shortlist. This is a high-impact role where you will transform manual human vetting into a sophisticated, automated judgment engine. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and want to build a platform that restores human value in hiring by eliminating administrative friction, this is the place for you.

• Design and ship high-precision scoring models to evaluate expert profiles against consulting briefs, weighting factors like industry trajectory, seniority, and geography.
• Build a sophisticated NLP layer to parse complex consulting briefs into structured search signals, managing ambiguity and implicit requirements.
• Establish the 'ground truth' by building datasets from historical engagements and owning the evaluation pipeline to track system improvements.
• Develop feedback loops that integrate reviewer decisions back into model refinement and ranking signals.
• Incorporate network proximity, engagement history, and response likelihood into the core ranking layer.
• Architect system logic for handling edge cases and low-density results, determining when to expand criteria or flag uncertainty.
• Lead experimentation and benchmark tracking to maintain a clear roadmap of technical wins and areas for optimization.

• 4-7 years of applied Machine Learning experience shipping ranking or scoring systems in production environments.
• Deep proficiency in NLP fundamentals, specifically entity extraction and semantic similarity.
• Proven experience with LLM-powered pipelines, including RAG and advanced prompt engineering.
• Expert-level Python programming skills.
• A rigorous discipline for evaluation, with experience building test sets and tracking performance metrics.

• Prior experience working in specialized AI labs within top-tier consulting firms (e.g., QuantumBlack, BCG Gamma).
• Experience in search and discovery engineering from large-scale marketplaces like Careem or Noon.
• Background in Talent Intelligence or HR Tech matching systems.
• Experience with propensity modeling in Fintech.
• Familiarity with LangChain or LlamaIndex.

• Improvement in precision and recall of expert shortlists compared to manual benchmarks.
• Reduction in time-to-shortlist for Tier 1 consulting engagements.
• Successful deployment of a self-improving feedback loop based on reviewer interactions.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support a high-performing remote lifestyle, including health coverage and the tools you need to succeed in a founding role.

Aikho is rethinking the hiring process with AI, transforming administrative tasks into meaningful conversations. Our mission is to use technology to restore human value in recruitment, ensuring that talent and connection remain at the heart of every hire. We value transparency, explainability, and linguistic inclusivity in every product we build.

Our culture is fast-paced and results-oriented. We serve Tier 1 consulting firms across EMEA, scaling from manual processes to an AI-powered automated platform. We operate in UTC+1 to UTC+5 time zones to ensure high-bandwidth collaboration.

Our process is streamlined: 1. Initial conversation with the CEO; 2. Technical deep dive on ranking and NLP; 3. Final alignment and offer.