Hire a fractional Head of AI in Boulder

Vetted head of artificial intelligence and machine learnings available for fractional, interim, or advisory engagements with companies in Boulder and across CO. Most engagements start inside two weeks.

The Boulder market for Head of AI / MLs

Boulder punches far above its size in venture-backed software, natural foods, climate science, and aerospace research, fed by the university and federal labs. Companies are small, technical, and often pre-revenue for long stretches. Fractional executives are used constantly here because the typical company is too small for a full C-suite but too complex to run without one.

Sectors we place Head of AI / MLs into around Boulder
venture-backed softwarenatural and organic foodsclimate science and cleantechaerospace researchbiotech

Why Boulder companies hire fractional Head of AI / MLs

The typical trigger in this market is a seed or Series A raise that requires executive accountability the founding team cannot cover. A fractional Head of AI gives you the same executive seat and ai / ml judgment on 1–3 days per week, without the base salary, equity, and benefits load of a permanent hire.

  • AI features are prototyped but never reach production quality
  • There are no evals, so quality regressions go unnoticed
  • Inference costs are unmanaged and growing
  • Your engineers need senior AI guidance, not a strategy deck

Typical cost in Boulder

Expect roughly $10k–$25k/mo per month, or $200–$500/hr hourly, for a fractional Head of AI in Boulder. Boulder retainers track national benchmarks, above the wider Colorado average. Most fractional Head of AI / ML retainers run $12k–$20k per month for 2 days per week.

National benchmark for comparison: $10k–$25k/mo per month ($200–$500/hr).

fractional Head of AI in Boulder — FAQs

How much does a fractional Head of AI cost in Boulder?

Most Boulder engagements run $10k–$25k/mo per month for 1–3 days per week, or $200–$500/hr on an hourly basis. Boulder retainers track national benchmarks, above the wider Colorado average.

How fast can I hire a fractional Head of AI in Boulder?

We return a curated shortlist of vetted Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learnings within 48 hours of your brief, and most Boulder companies are in first conversations the same week and started within two weeks.

Do Head of AI / MLs need to be based in Boulder?

Not necessarily. Many Boulder companies hire a locally based Head of AI / ML for onsite days with the leadership team, but remote-first engagements are equally common and widen the candidate pool considerably.

When do Boulder companies usually bring in a fractional Head of AI / ML?

The most common trigger is a seed or Series A raise that requires executive accountability the founding team cannot cover. At that point the function needs executive ownership, but not yet a full-time salary, equity grant, and benefits load.

Start your Head of AI / ML search in Boulder

Post a role and receive a curated shortlist within 48 hours.