Technical Lead for ML Systems

About the Role

At Acrylic, we care deeply about art, creativity, and expression. Our goal is to bring physical art to everyday people, helping them connect with artists, develop taste, and hang something meaningful on their walls.

Our technical team builds systems that turn imagination into reality. There's no single model that solves this. We combine generative and recommendation AI, digital illustration pipelines, and robotics into one integrated stack that moves from idea to finished painting.

We're hiring a Technical Lead for ML Systems to build and lead our machine learning team. You'll own the roadmap, make the architecture decisions, build the first production models yourself, and grow the team over time. We're looking for someone who wants to build at the frontier of AI creativity and ensure AI remains a tool and medium, not a replacement for artists.

What You'll Do

• Own the ML roadmap with the Head of Engineering.
• Pick the architecture for our stroke-generation system and build the first working version.
• Work with our in-house artists to refine constraints, reward direction, and what "good" means for the model.
• Get a working MVP into production that a designer can use end to end.
• Hire and lead ML and software engineers as the team grows.
• Work with curators and the robotics team so what's designed on screen ends up on the canvas.
• Stay hands-on writing models.

What You Bring

• You've shipped ML products that reached real users, ideally generative: diffusion, GANs, applied LLMs, or tools like ComfyUI, Runway, or ElevenLabs.
• You think like an engineer. You care about what happens when a model hits production.
• You've spent real time around creative work. Maybe at Adobe, Figma, or Midjourney.
• You want to have a big impact on the world. You see startups as the way to do it.
• You want to lead a team because teamwork is how real work gets done.

Who You Are

You are someone who leads by example.

• You like to move fast.
• You take on hard, ambiguous problems.
• You have strong opinions.
• You follow work through to completion.
• You know how to lock in.

You are a force multiplier for people.

• You hold yourself to the highest standards.
• You give clear direction and context.
• You challenge ideas directly and fairly.
• You are generous with your time and attention.
• You invest in people's growth.

What Success Looks Like

• You get shit done.
• And have a good time doing it.

How to Apply

Full-time, in-person in Montreal. Competitive base plus meaningful early equity.

We review applications on a rolling basis and tailor the process to the role and the person. Our goal is to get to know you, not put you through a hiring gauntlet.

→ Apply here: https://form.typeform.com/to/Is2Ipo9z