{"id":4199709,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer","title":"Senior AI Research Engineer","company":{"id":4394391,"name":"Zero RFI","domain":"zero-rfi.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zero-rfi","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":null},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Francisco, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"A/B Testing","optional":false},{"name":"Amazon SageMaker","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":false},{"name":"Azure","optional":false},{"name":"Computer Vision","optional":false},{"name":"Diffusion Models","optional":false},{"name":"Docker","optional":false},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":false},{"name":"MLFlow","optional":false},{"name":"NeRF","optional":false},{"name":"NumPy","optional":false},{"name":"Open3D","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"PyTorch","optional":false},{"name":"Reinforcement Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Scikit-learn","optional":false},{"name":"SciPy","optional":false},{"name":"Transformers","optional":false},{"name":"Vertex AI","optional":false},{"name":"Weights & Biases","optional":false},{"name":"YOLO","optional":false},{"name":"AI Agents","optional":true},{"name":"DGL","optional":true},{"name":"Isaac Sim","optional":true},{"name":"MuJoCo","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-23T17:20:17Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-23","last_verified_at":"2026-11-12T21:47:46Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":112,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":112},"description":"Artificial intelligence is rewriting every industry it touches - but construction, the second largest sector in the global economy, has barely felt it yet. That's not a problem. That's an opening. ZeroRFI is the AI company building the intelligence layer for the built environment - the platform that makes every building project smarter, faster, and more predictable than the last. We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to architect the systems that put AI at the center of how buildings get designed, built, and operated. This isn't AI as a feature. It's AI as the foundation.\nWe are seeking a Senior AI Engineer to lead the development of automated building design systems and advance the state-of-the-art in AI/ML applications for the built environment. You'll architect and implement generative design algorithms, computer vision systems, and optimization models that fundamentally transform how buildings are conceived, designed, and validated. This role sits at the intersection of deep learning, computational geometry, and architectural design, creating AI systems that augment human creativity while respecting engineering constraints and building codes.\nThis is a rare opportunity to apply cutting-edge AI research to one of humanity's most fundamental challenges: creating better spaces for people to live, work, and thrive.\nKey Responsibilities\nDesign and implement generative AI models for automated building design, including floor plan generation, facade design, and structural optimization using state-of-the-art architectures (diffusion models, transformers, GANs).\n\nDevelop computer vision pipelines for design and drawing analysis using modern frameworks like YOLO, SAM, and NeRF-based 3D reconstruction.\n\nBuild graph neural networks and geometric deep learning models for structural analysis and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) system optimization.\n\nCreate reinforcement learning systems for multi-objective building optimization (energy efficiency, cost, occupant comfort, sustainability metrics).\n\nIntegrate AI models with industry-standard BIM tools (Revit, Rhino/Grasshopper) through custom APIs and plugins.\n\nDeploy production ML pipelines using modern MLOps practices, including experiment tracking (Weights & Biases, MLflow), model versioning, and A/B testing frameworks.\n\nImplement physics-informed neural networks for building performance simulation and predictive modeling.\n\nCollaborate with architects and engineers to ensure AI systems produce practical, code-compliant, and constructible designs.\n\nLead research initiatives and publish findings to establish us as a thought leader in AEC AI innovation.\n\nRequirements\nMaster's degree or PhD in Computer Science, AI/ML, Computational Design, or related field (or equivalent industry experience).\n\n3-5+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying ML models in production environments.\n\nDeep expertise with modern deep learning frameworks (PyTorch preferred).\n\nStrong foundation in computer vision, 3D geometry processing, and spatial reasoning algorithms.\n\nExperience with generative AI models (VAEs, GANs, Diffusion Models, Transformers) and their practical applications.\n\nProficiency in Python and scientific computing libraries (NumPy, SciPy, scikit-learn, Open3D, trimesh).\n\nExperience with cloud ML platforms (AWS SageMaker, Vertex AI, or Azure ML) and distributed training frameworks.\n\nUnderstanding of optimization techniques (genetic algorithms, gradient-based optimization, constraint satisfaction).\n\nStrong software engineering practices and experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).\n\nExcellent communication skills to translate complex AI concepts to domain experts and stakeholders.\n\nPreferred Qualifications (A plus, not a requirement)\nExperience with computational design tools (Grasshopper, Dynamo) and parametric modeling.\n\nFamiliarity with building information modeling (BIM) standards and IFC data schemas.\n\nKnowledge of graph neural networks (PyTorch Geometric, DGL) for structural and spatial analysis.\n\nExperience with physics simulation engines (Mujoco, Isaac Sim) or FEA integration.\n\nBackground in multi-agent reinforcement learning for complex system optimization.\n\nContributions to open-source ML projects or published research in relevant venues (NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, or domain-specific conferences).\n\nExperience with point cloud processing and 3D scene understanding (PointNet++, DGCNN).\n\nUnderstanding of construction workflows and building codes.\n\nWhat We Offer\nCompensation that reflects the role: Base salary $250,000-$300,000 plus meaningful early-stage equity. You're not joining a company where the upside is already priced in - you're one of the people pricing it.\n\nHybrid work, your way: San Francisco or Atlanta, with a one-time home office stipend to build the setup you actually want.\n\nHealthcare done right: Comprehensive coverage with multiple plan options - we're not making you figure it out yourself.\n\nUnlimited PTO: We care about output, not hours logged.\n\nRetirement options: Multiple investment vehicles to plan long-term.\n\nTools without bureaucracy: A curated toolkit of AI, development, and research resources with the autonomy to use what works.\n\nA network you can't buy: Direct exposure to ZeroRFI's owner and developer community - 53,000+ AEC industry subscribers, live events, and the relationships that matter in this industry.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5420,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Home office","Hybrid work","Unlimited PTO"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Artificial Intelligence"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-12T21:47:46Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":12,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.419,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":112,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:1","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-11-12T23:00:06Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/zero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/zero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-12T23:00:06Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":48650,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":4394391},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=4394391"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fzero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"free","price":{"credits":0,"usd":0},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fzero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fzero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/zero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fzero-rfi-senior-ai-research-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":4199709}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"zero-rfi.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":4199709},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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