Head of AI & Research

About the Company

At Petlibro, we are redefining the future of pet care through smart technology, AI, and connected experiences.

About the Role

The Head of AI and Research will lead Designlibro’s advanced research and artificial intelligence strategy, driving the development of next-generation pet technology solutions across smart devices, cloud platforms, and intelligent services. As the leader of all North American advanced research teams, this executive will oversee comprehensive hardware and software exploration beyond just AI modules, as well as direct our North American animal research initiatives. This leader will work cross-functionally to bring scalable innovations from concept to production, deepening the connection between pets and their families through advanced machine learning, computer vision, holistic health data, and behavioral insights.

Responsibilities

Advanced Research & AI Strategy

• Define and execute the company’s advanced research vision, roadmap, and long-term innovation strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead all North American pre-research teams, expanding exploratory initiatives across AI, software architectures, and next-generation smart hardware configurations.
• Drive innovation in machine learning, generative AI, computer vision, recommendation systems, and intelligent IoT experiences.
• Establish scalable architecture and infrastructure for both cloud-native and edge-device deployment.

Animal Research & Wellness Insights

• Establish and manage North American animal research programs and facilities to study pet behaviors, physical needs, and user interactions.
• Leverage animal research data to drive product innovation and contribute to core health metrics and ecosystems, such as the Pet Wellness Index.
• Ensure all animal research is conducted ethically and translates effectively into actionable hardware, software, and AI product requirements.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead the design, development, optimization, and deployment of intelligent models and systems across smart devices and cloud platforms.
• Collaborate closely with software, hardware, product, and UX teams to integrate AI and pre-research findings seamlessly into customer-facing products and services.
• Ensure systems are scalable, reliable, secure, and production-ready.
• Monitor model performance, analyze outcomes, and drive continuous iteration and improvement.

Operations & Technical Excellence

• Establish development workflows, MLOps processes, and performance metrics to support rapid innovation and operational excellence.
• Oversee advanced R&D infrastructure, tooling, resource planning, and technology investments.
• Drive best practices for data governance, model evaluation, experimentation, and responsible technology development.

Cross-functional & Executive Collaboration

• Partner with executive leadership, R&D, product management, software engineering, and business teams to align AI initiatives with company strategy.
• Provide technical guidance and strategic recommendations for AI-related business opportunities and investments.
• Represent the AI organization in executive meetings, investor discussions, strategic partnerships, and industry engagements.
• Help shape the future direction of AI-powered pet health and smart pet care ecosystems.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s or PhD degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional AI R&D experience with strong expertise in deep learning, generative AI, and modern machine learning systems.
• Proven track record of leading AI research initiatives and deploying AI products into production environments.
• Experience managing and scaling AI teams in fast-paced technology organizations.
• Strong programming proficiency in Python, C++, or similar languages.
• Experience with AWS, Google Cloud, or other cloud AI platforms.
• Strong understanding of deploying AI systems in cloud-native and/or edge-device environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience building AI-powered consumer electronics or IoT products.
• Familiarity with computer vision, behavioral AI, recommendation systems, or multimodal AI applications.
• Experience integrating AI into connected hardware ecosystems.
• Prior leadership experience in cross-functional or international engineering organizations.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership — Ability to define and execute a forward-looking research vision aligned with business growth.
• Technical Expertise — Deep understanding of AI/ML technologies, hardware/software pre-research, and deployment practices.
• Innovation Mindset — Passion for developing disruptive, data-driven consumer experiences.
• Operational Excellence — Ability to scale research organizations and production systems effectively.
• Cross-functional Collaboration — Skilled at aligning technical and business stakeholders around shared objectives, across global time zones.
• Communication & Influence — Effective communicator capable of translating complex concepts to executive and non-technical audiences.

Compensation Package

• Competitive executive compensation package (base + performance bonus + equity).
• Comprehensive health, wellness, and family benefits.
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.
• Opportunity to lead AI innovation at global scale in a high-growth industry.

Benefits Program

Petlibro offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and growth of our employees. Full-time employees are eligible for:

• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Retirement: Eligibility to participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan with 4% company match
• Paid Time Off: Vacation and sick leave in accordance with applicable state laws
• Holidays: Company-observed paid holidays

Additional benefits or programs may be offered and may vary based on location and employment eligibility.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Petlibro is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.