AI Research Scientist

webAI; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and performance-based incentives

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits

401k Match

$200/mos Health and Wellness Stipend

$400/year Continuing Education Credit

$500/year Function Health subscription

Free parking for in-office employees

Unlimited Approved PTO

Parental Leave for Eligible Employees

Supplemental Life Insurance

Job summary

A technology company specializing in AI based in Austin, Texas, is looking for an AI Research Scientist to develop and optimize next-generation AI models. The role involves designing, training, and evaluating cutting-edge machine learning models while collaborating with engineering teams to translate research into real-world applications. Candidates should have a strong background in deep learning and machine learning research, along with excellent communication skills. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in machine learning research or AI model development.
• Hands-on experience training and fine-tuning large-scale models.
• Strong expertise in deep learning architectures including transformers and CNNs.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX.
• Experience building datasets, designing experiments, and validating ML model performance.
• Understanding of optimization techniques including quantization, distillation, pruning, and hardware-aware training.
• Strong problem-solving and independent work skills.
• Excellent communication for presenting research.

Responsibilities

• Design, train, and optimize machine learning models including LLMs.
• Conduct research on model efficiency and on-device deployment.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate findings into production.
• Develop benchmarks, datasets, and experimentation frameworks to test model performance.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate research into production systems.
• Stay current on deep learning, generative AI, and distributed ML research.
• Analyze results and communicate insights to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Document findings and present work internally.
• Identify emerging technologies and propose research directions aligned with priorities.

Skills

Deep learning architectures

Machine learning model development

Problem-solving skills

Effective communication

Diffusion models

On-device inference

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

JAX

Experimentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field

Master’s or PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, AI, or a related field

Tools

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

About Us

webAI is pioneering the future of artificial intelligence by establishing the first distributed AI infrastructure dedicated to personalized AI. We recognize the evolving demands of a data-driven society for scalability and flexibility, and we firmly believe that the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Our mission is to build a future where a company's valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private, enabling the deployment of large-scale AI models directly on standard consumer hardware without compromising the information embedded within those models. We are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of our users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business. We are a team driven by truth, ownership, tenacity, and humility, and we seek individuals who resonate with these core values and are passionate about shaping the next generation of AI.

About the Role

The AI Research Scientist will contribute to webAI’s development of next-generation AI models and systems. In this role, you will design, train, evaluate, and optimize cutting-edge machine learning models including large language models, multimodal architectures, and on-device inference systems. You will work closely with research leadership, applied AI teams, and platform engineering to advance scientific discovery while ensuring that innovations translate into real-world impact.

This is a hands‑on research role for someone who loves experimentation, solving complex problems, and building AI that is powerful, efficient, and privacy-preserving.

Responsibilities

• Design, train, and optimize machine learning models including LLMs, multimodal models, transformers, and diffusion architectures
• Conduct research on model efficiency, quantization, compression, and on-device deployment
• Prototype novel model architectures, training methods, and inference strategies for distributed AI
• Develop and evaluate benchmarks, datasets, and experimental frameworks to test model performance
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate research findings into production systems
• Stay current on leading research in deep learning, generative AI, and distributed ML
• Analyze experimental results and communicate insights clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Document research findings, contribute to internal papers, and present technical work across the organization
• Identify emerging technologies and propose research directions aligned with webAI’s strategic priorities

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience (can be graduate research) in machine learning research, AI model development, or related fields
• Strong expertise in deep learning architectures including transformers, CNNs, RNNs, and diffusion models
• Hands‑on experience training and fine‑tuning large-scale models
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX
• Experience building datasets, designing experiments, and validating ML model performance
• Deep understanding of optimization techniques including quantization, distillation, pruning, and hardware‑aware training
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to work independently on complex research tasks
• Effective communication skills for presenting research findings to diverse audiences
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field

Preferred Skills

• Master’s or PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, AI, or a related field
• Experience with distributed training, edge inference, or on‑device ML
• Research experience in generative AI, reinforcement learning, or multimodal learning
• Familiarity with privacy‑preserving ML techniques such as federated learning
• Experience contributing to academic publications, patents, or open‑source ML projects
• Comfort operating in a fast‑paced, high‑growth startup environment

Core Values

We at webAI are committed to living out the core values we have put on in place as the foundation on which we operate as a team. We seek individuals who exemplify the following:

• Truth – Emphasizing transparency and honesty in every interaction and decision.
• Ownership – Taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, demonstrating commitment to the success of our clients.
• Tenacity – Persisting in the face of challenges and setbacks, continually striving for excellence and improvement.
• Humility – Maintaining a respectful and learning‑oriented mindset, acknowledging the strengths and contributions of others.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance‑based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package.
• 401k Match (US‑based only)
• $200/mos Health and Wellness Stipend
• $400/year Continuing Education Credit
• $500/year Function Health subscription (US‑based only)
• Free parking, for in‑office employees
• Unlimited Approved PTO
• Parental Leave for Eligible Employees
• Supplemental Life Insurance

webAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of webAI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.