Research Scientist

Goodfire; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Goodfire in San Francisco is seeking a Research Scientist to advance new interpretability techniques for large AI models. You will work with a small, mission-driven team to conduct original research, build practical tools, and push the field forward.

You will contribute to interpretability mechanisms, moonshots, and applied research, with responsibilities including visualizing internal model structures, collaborating with engineering, and sharing work via publications and open-source.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in ML, CS, or a quantitative science.
• Deep familiarity with large models and how they work.
• Fluency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Strong writing and communication skills for explaining complex ideas.
• Drive to move quickly and take ownership.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research in interpretability and related fields.
• Prototype techniques to visualize and manipulate internal model structures.
• Collaborate with engineering to turn research into production-ready tools.
• Share your work through publications, demos, and open-source contributions.
• Help define and evolve our research direction.

Skills

Python

PyTorch

Writing & communication

Ownership

Education

PhD or equivalent (ML/CS/quantitative science)

Job description

Goodfire is an AI interpretability research lab. We build interpretability agents and infrastructure to understand, monitor, and align AI models.

We believe that AI is the most consequential technology of our time. Yet AI models are trained by trial and error today, with limited understanding of what drives their behavior. Our goal is to advance the research and technology needed to fully understand and align AI so humanity can trust superintelligence.

Goodfire is a public benefit corporation founded by researchers who helped pioneer the field of interpretability at OpenAI and Google DeepMind. We are headquartered in San Francisco and have raised over $200M from leading investors including Lightspeed, Menlo, and B Capital.

About the role

We’re looking for a Research Scientist to join our team and develop new techniques for understanding and steering large AI models. You’ll work closely with a small, mission-driven team of scientists and engineers to conduct novel research, build practical tools, and push the field forward.

Where you might contribute:

• Interpretability mechanisms – Foundational research on how models represent and process information.
• Moonshots – High-upside bets on novel techniques that could unlock breakthroughs in model understanding.
• Applied research & usability – Translating research into tools for real-world users and enterprise applications.

We’ll determine your pod placement during the interview process based on your background and interests.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct original research in interpretability and related fields.
• Prototype techniques to visualize and manipulate internal model structures.
• Collaborate with engineering to turn research into production-ready tools.
• Share your work through publications, demos, and open-source contributions.
• Help define and evolve our research direction.

What you’ll bring

Required experience

• PhD or equivalent experience in ML, computer science, or a quantitative science.
• Deep familiarity with large models and a passion for understanding how they work.
• Fluency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Strong writing and communication skills for explaining complex ideas.
• Drive to move quickly and take ownership.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience leading research or contributing to open-source codebases.
• Familiarity with interpretability, alignment, or safe model development.
• Experience in startup or fast-paced lab environments.

Our values

Goodfire is looking for individuals who embody our values and share our deep commitment to making interpretability accessible. We are building a team first and foremost.

Put mission and team first

All we do is in service of our mission. We trust each other, deeply care about the success of the organization, and choose to put our team above ourselves.

Improve constantly

We are constantly looking to improve every piece of the business. We proactively critique ourselves and others in a kind and thoughtful way that translates to practical improvements in the organization. We are pragmatic and consistently implement the obvious fixes that work.

Take ownership and initiative

There are no bystanders here. We proactively identify problems and take full responsibility over getting a strong result. We are self-driven, own our mistakes, and feel deep responsibility over what we’re building.

Action today

We have a small amount of time to do something incredibly hard and meaningful. The pace and intensity of the organization is high. If we can take action today or tomorrow, we will choose to do it today.

Where we work

We are hiring for this position in our San Francisco HQ. We are in person 5 days a week, with one company-wide remote week per month.

What we offer

This role offers market competitive salary, equity, and competitive benefits.

The expected salary range for this position is $200,000 - $400,000 USD