Staff AI Research Engineer

Duolingo; New York (NY); On-site; USD 220,800 - 331,200; Full time

Job summary

Duolingo is seeking an experienced AI Research Engineer to join its Monetization team in New York. You will develop AI systems aimed at enhancing the learning experience while contributing to business success.

The ideal candidate has a solid background in machine learning techniques, especially large language models and bandits, and will work closely with cross-functional teams. Strong leadership and innovative problem-solving skills are essential. The position offers competitive salary and equity compensation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an AI research engineer, especially in LLMs and bandits.
• Strong background in training and fine-tuning large models.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Join a full-stack team of AI Research engineers.
• Contribute to the development and training of bandit models.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for model alignment.
• Drive product and business decisions within the Monetization group.
• Stay updated on machine learning advancements.
• Mentor team members for professional development.
• Deliver high-quality, scalable machine learning solutions.

Skills

AI research

large language models

machine learning techniques

bandit models

feature engineering

reinforcement learning

computer vision

Education

Advanced degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in!

At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about finding innovative solutions to complex technical problems, running countless experiments (300+ at a time!) with our massive user base to make data-driven decisions, and educating our users and employees alike. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities, mentorship and collaboration with world-class minds, and a variety of projects with large scopes – while doing work that’s both fun and meaningful.

Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced AI Research Engineer to join our Duolingo Monetization team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record as an AI research engineer, with extensive experience across various machine learning techniques including large language models, multi‑armed bandits, and more. They will have experience at all levels of the ML stack, including feature engineering, developing training data, fine‑tuning, reinforcement learning, quality evaluations, deployment, and monitoring. On the Monetization team, we’re building AI systems to improve the learning experience while driving our business, including deploying our research into bandit models to balance revenue and retention. Given the broad set of AI domains, broad experience in AI/ML is highly desirable.

You will

• Join a full‑stack team of frontend, backend, and other AI Research engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Contribute to the development and training of bandit models and large‑scale neural network models.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to understand their needs, to align the models’ outputs with company objectives.
• Participate in and help drive strategic product and business decision‑making as a member of the Monetization leadership group.
• Stay up‑to‑date with the latest developments in machine learning, particularly in LLMs and bandits, and apply this knowledge to drive advancements in our projects.
• Mentor team members, providing guidance and support in their professional development.
• Ensure the delivery of high‑quality, scalable, and efficient machine learning solutions.

You have

• Proven experience as an AI research engineer, for example, in LLMs, bandits, computer vision, or related fields.
• Strong background in training and fine‑tuning large models in an applied setting.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field with a focus on machine learning or artificial intelligence, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to manage and inspire a team.
• Deep understanding of machine learning concepts, frameworks, and best practices.

The offered salary is dependent upon several factors, including work experience, skills, and internal peer comparisons. The posted range is subject to change in the future. For this role, base salary is supplemented by equity compensation.

Salary Range: $220,800—$331,200 USD

Benefits

Take a peek at how we care for our employees’ holistic well‑being.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.