Smadex is a leading mobile and CTV advertising technology company founded in Barcelona and acquired by Entravision (NYSE: EVC) in 2018. We deliver performance marketing campaigns for apps, games, and brands through our proprietary DSP, powered by advanced machine learning and real-time optimization.

As Smadex scales its AI capabilities, we are building agents, automating workflows, and making increasingly complex decisions about where AI investment is genuinely worth making. To lead this, we are hiring our first

AI R&D; & Effectiveness Lead

- a technically rigorous, commercially grounded practitioner who can evaluate what is worth building, make the business case for it, and build it to a production standard.

This is a foundational R&D; role at the intersection of AI engineering, business analysis, and operational strategy. You will not just evaluate AI tools - you will run the decision framework that governs Smadex’s AI investment, and you will build the agents, integrations, and automated workflows that power it.

This is a full-time position based in Barcelona.

Key Responsibilities Build vs Buy - ROI Decision Framework

Own the evaluation process for every AI initiative: agent, query/report, engineering build, hybrid, or native platform add-on - applied consistently before anyone writes a line of code

Produce rigorous ROI analyses for AI investment - quantified, tracked against actual outcomes, and iterated over time

Maintain the build vs buy evaluation across core platforms (Salesforce, Slack, PowerBI, Notion, Hibob, Saleshood etc) - assessing native AI features versus custom builds for each use case

Work alongside the SVP to stress-test recommendations before they are presented to business stakeholders

Production-Grade AI Development

Design and build AI agents, webhook integrations, MCP connections, and agentic workflows to production standards

Apply security-first and efficiency-first principles to every build: least privilege, observable outputs, sustainable maintenance overhead

Produce clean,



well-documented solutions that others can understand, maintain, and build on - not black-box prototypes

Own the technical handover to the Enablement Lead for every build that goes into operational use

AI Capability Management

Maintain the AI capability matrix: which models and tools are approved for which use cases, with documented rationale

Continuously benchmark new capabilities against Smadex’s vigente use cases - not generic industry benchmarks

Track model and tool end-of-life proactively; recommend transitions before performance degrades

Keep the team from quietly running on outdated or cost-inefficient models

R&D; and Innovation

Own the forward-looking R&D; function: horizon scanning, prototyping, and translating emerging AI capabilities into Smadex-relevant proof of concepts

Lead structured innovation initiatives - hackathons, rapid prototyping sprints - working cross-functionally to generate and validate ideas

Brief the team and Enablement Lead on what is coming in the AI landscape that is relevant to Smadex’s commercial and operational context

What we are looking for

4–7 years of experience in AI engineering, solutions architecture, technical product, or a similar hands-on builder role

Production AI build experience: agents, automations, API integrations, or agentic workflows shipped to a real production environment - not just prototypes

Security and efficiency mindset: designs for least privilege, observable outputs, and maintainability from the start, not as an afterthought

Strong analytical capability: able to construct an ROI framework, quantify trade-offs,



and communicate a build recommendation clearly to non-technical stakeholders

Familiarity with the business SaaS ecosystem: Salesforce, Slack, Notion, or similar - and how AI layers onto commercial and operational workflows

Bonus: Experience with MCP architecture, webhook design, or agentic workflow patterns

Bonus: Background in adtech, DSP, or programmatic - domain fluency shortens the calibration period

Bonus: Exposure to AWS Bedrock or equivalent managed AI services A portfolio of things you have actually shipped carries more weight than any certification. We are looking for someone who has moved from idea to production on something AI-powered and who can explain exactly why some builds break in the real world.

Why this role matters: This is not an AI tools evaluation role.

It is the function that decides what Smadex’s AI is worth doing and makes sure it gets done properly. You will own the R&D; capability for a fast-moving, commercially ambitious business unit - building the agents and workflows that compound over time, and making the investment decisions that ensure we are never building the wrong thing for the wrong reason.

If you are a rigorous thinker who can also ship - and who finds it energising to work at the boundary of analysis and construction - we’d love to meet you.

Please note that we do NOT provide VISA sponsorship. Candidates without a legal permit to work in Spain won't be considered.

What is in it for you:

Integrate a highly motivated, young and dynamic team

Great compensation package

Top location at the heart of Barcelona with a rooftop terrace, Barbecue, and a fully stocked fridge

Great work-life balance: work from home (2 days per week), flexible hours

Meal vouchers - Ticket Restaurant monthly allowance

Monthly gym allowance: Choose between DiR and Wellhub

LinkedIn Learning and training opportunities

Monthly TGIF events

Regular team-building events

Fun and friendly work environment with talented marketers and engineers from over 40 countries

📌 AI R&D & Effectiveness Lead (Madrid)
🏢 Smadex
📍 Madrid