Forward Deployed Researcher

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Forward Deployed Researcher based in the United States.

This role serves as a technical research partner to AI labs and enterprise teams working on advanced AI systems.

You will work directly with customers to design and deliver AI evaluation, human data, and research projects from initial scoping through completion.

The position combines research expertise, applied machine learning, rapid prototyping, and customer-facing problem solving.

You will develop evaluation methodologies, data collection strategies, quality frameworks, validation systems, and other bespoke research solutions.

The role also provides an opportunity to identify recurring customer needs and translate research insights into new product and platform capabilities.

You will collaborate closely with research, engineering, product, services, and account teams while communicating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

This is a remote, mission-driven environment focused on advancing AI through high-quality human data, evaluation, and responsible research.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as the technical research partner for AI labs and enterprise AI teams during customer engagements.
• Advise customers on AI evaluation methodologies, human data collection, model assessment, and research strategy.
• Design and prototype bespoke solutions for evaluation methodology, rubric development, data collection, and quality frameworks.
• Develop verifiers, validation frameworks, AI-assisted workflows, and reinforcement learning environments where appropriate.
• Own research methodology and delivery across projects, from initial scoping through completion.
• Work closely with the services team to translate customer objectives into practical research engagements.
• Build trusted relationships with customer research, engineering, and technical teams.
• Communicate research findings and methodology recommendations in ways that are actionable for customer teams.
• Collaborate with Services and Account teams to qualify opportunities and contribute to proposals.
• Identify recurring patterns and needs across customer projects that could inform future platform capabilities.
• Partner with Product and Engineering teams to translate research insights into roadmap priorities and practical solutions.
• Share research and technical learnings across the broader Research Engineering organization.
• Contribute to research publications, external collaborations, and industry-facing initiatives when relevant.
• Collaborate with product teams to turn emerging research findings into usable applications and capabilities.
• Mentor colleagues on advanced AI concepts, evaluation techniques, and emerging research practices.
• Help customers navigate complex human feedback, alignment, and AI evaluation challenges.
• Contribute to the evolution of approaches for understanding, evaluating, and improving AI systems through high-quality human data.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in AI/ML research, research engineering, applied machine learning, or a closely related field.
• Strong knowledge of LLM evaluation methodologies and approaches to assessing model performance.
• Experience designing data collection methodologies and human feedback systems.
• Understanding of how human judgment can be incorporated into AI evaluation and development workflows.
• Experience designing AI-assisted or model-in-the-loop workflows.
• Ability to identify creative opportunities where AI can augment human judgment and research processes.
• Demonstrated track record of executing research or applied AI/ML projects with clear, measurable outcomes.
• Strong prototyping skills and the ability to build tooling or technical solutions quickly when required.
• Comfortable working hands-on across research methodology, experimentation, implementation, and delivery.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, particularly when working with ambiguous research challenges.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with AI researchers, engineers, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex research methodologies into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with technical and research-oriented customers.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively across research, engineering, product, services, and account teams.
• Ability to communicate technical priorities and research insights clearly to non-specialist stakeholders.
• Customer-facing or consulting experience is a plus but is not required.
• Experience mentoring colleagues or contributing to the development of technical expertise is desirable.
• Based in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, or able to work effectively during U.S. timezone hours.

Benefits:

• Remote working environment.
• Competitive salary, with compensation determined according to role location, skills, experience, education, and training.
• Compensation packages for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits.
• Certain roles may include a cash variable component, such as a bonus or commission.
• Access to a platform focused on high-quality, ethically sourced human behavioral data and feedback.
• Opportunities to contribute to advanced AI research, evaluation, and applied machine learning initiatives.
• Opportunities to collaborate with AI researchers, engineering teams, product specialists, and enterprise customers.
• Exposure to emerging AI methodologies, human feedback approaches, and model evaluation techniques.
• Opportunities to contribute to research publications and external collaborations.
• Remote flexibility within the applicable geographic and timezone requirements.
• Mission-driven environment focused on advancing AI through human-generated data and research.
• Opportunities for professional growth through challenging research and customer engagements.