Founder Associate

As a Founder Associate at Ailit, you will work directly with the founders on a small set of high-priority execution topics across the company. The role is focused on helping turn decisions into action across engineering, operations, partnerships, and supplier-facing work.

You will operate as a generalist with real ownership, supporting founder-led initiatives, driving follow-through, and keeping complex workstreams moving. Parts of the role involve coordination with suppliers and partners, including in China, as well as periodic travel.

‍

• Support founders on critical execution workstreams across engineering, operations, and partnerships.
• Help translate decisions into concrete next steps, timelines, and ownership.
• Track progress across teams and ensure follow-through on key initiatives.
• Prepare materials and briefings for meetings with partners, suppliers, and investors.
• Support selected supplier-facing and supply chain-related work, including preparation and follow-up.
• Assist with analysis and coordination related to sourcing, qualification, or logistics when needed.
• Travel as required to support meetings, site visits, or integration-related activities.
• Step into ad-hoc problems that require structure, judgment, and ownership.

• Have 1–5 years of experience in consulting, startups, operations, or similar execution-heavy environments.
• Are comfortable working across functions and dealing with ambiguity.
• Are reliable, structured, and able to manage multiple threads in parallel.
• Communicate clearly and directly, both in writing and in conversation.
• Speak Mandarin Chinese fluently or near-fluently, which is a strong advantage.
• Are open to travel and flexible working rhythms when the work requires it.

Ailit is building modular battery systems for freight rail, enabling operators to reduce diesel consumption without changing train operations. We integrate batteries with our own power electronics, control software, and rail interfaces, assembling and operating the AI optimized energy systems for deployment in North America and other heavy-haul markets.

We are building the company with a strong focus on disciplined execution, technical depth, and long-term impact in critical industrial infrastructure.

Competitive depending on seniority. With equity upside.