Head of Engineering

Head Of Engineering

OpenExpert.AI (a C10Labs company) is building the intelligence layer for the modern energy system. We develop AI-powered systems that act as Digital Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for power generation, transmission, and distributed energy operations. Our platform helps utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), and energy operators reduce downtime, improve asset reliability, and make faster, expert-level decisions in real time. As the grid becomes more complex—with renewables, storage, and aging infrastructure—operators face increasing pressure to do more with less. We believe the future of energy reliability will be driven by AI systems that augment human expertise at scale.

OpenExpert.ai is hiring a Head of Engineering to lead, in equal measure, our product engineering strategy and our domain expertise in power plant operations. This role combines hands-on leadership across software, data, and AI systems with deep knowledge of generation asset operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and reliability. You will help build trusted operational AI products that turn plant data, manuals, and institutional knowledge into fast, auditable recommendations for energy teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering strategy, architecture, and delivery across AI applications, data platforms, integrations, and production systems.
• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert on plant operations, maintenance workflows, outage response, root-cause analysis, reliability, and operator decision support.
• Translate real-world plant problems into product requirements, technical roadmaps, and scalable software solutions.
• Build and mentor a high-performing engineering team across backend, data, AI/ML, platform, and integration functions.
• Partner with product, design, and customers to develop features that integrate with SCADA, historians, CMMS/EAM, OEM documentation, and other operational systems.
• Define standards for security, uptime, traceability, testing, observability, and responsible AI in high-consequence environments.
• Validate model outputs and workflows against operational reality, safety expectations, and compliance requirements.
• Support customer discovery, pilot deployment, implementation planning, and executive communication with operators, utilities, and O&M leaders.

Skills And Tools

• Power generation domain expertise across one or more asset classes: gas, steam, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, or nuclear.
• Strong engineering leadership in cloud-native software, APIs, distributed systems, data pipelines, and enterprise integrations.
• Experience with Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, SQL, and modern backend frameworks.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP, plus Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and observability tools.
• Familiarity with LLM/AI systems, RAG, vector databases, MLOps/LLMOps, and evaluation/guardrail frameworks.
• Working knowledge of industrial and operational data environments such as OSIsoft PI / AVEVA PI, SCADA, OPC UA, historians, CMMS/EAM, ERP, and APM platforms.
• Strong systems thinking, incident/problem-solving discipline, and ability to communicate with both engineers and plant operators.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience spanning energy operations, industrial technology, software engineering, or technical product development.
• 5+ years leading engineering teams, technical architecture, or platform delivery in a startup, industrial software, or enterprise environment.
• Proven experience in power plant operations, reliability, maintenance engineering, performance engineering, or technical O&M support.
• Demonstrated success shipping production-grade software products used in operational or mission-critical settings.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Advanced degree or experience in power systems, mechanical engineering, industrial automation, AI/ML, or data systems is a plus.

About C10 Labs

C10 Labs is a Cambridge-based venture studio fund transforming the future of AI-First startups. We partner with inspiring entrepreneurs to push their businesses forward and scale their solutions. Through surrounding our teams with expert technology support, operational know-how, and our network of advisors, we help create a greater impact together.

Our Hiring Process

Stage 1: Applied

Stage 2: Application Review

Stage 3: Recruiter Interview

Stage 4: Calibration

Stage 5: Hiring Manager Interview

Stage 6: Team Interview

Stage 7: Offer

Stage 8: Hired

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