Research Scientist, Agents for Science Seattle, WA View job

Role: Research Scientist, Agents for Science
Location: Seattle, WA

Role Overview:
You are a creative, hands-on AI researcher with a strong foundation in AI and reasoning. Passionate about pushing the boundaries of research and engineering, you seek to advance AI both scientifically and openly. You thrive in collaborative environments, take initiative, and are eager to contribute to Ai2’s impact-driven mission in a dynamic, fast-paced research setting. Skilled at translating complex concepts into concrete research goals and implementation steps, you define clear approaches, execute effectively, and communicate results with clarity. You leverage these skills to create real-world benefits for researchers and practitioners alike and are excited to help drive the development of the best-performing open AI model.

As a key member of the core team of research scientists and machine learning engineers at Ai2, you will drive the development of AI systems with deep reasoning capabilities with a focus on the huge breadth of skills necessary for scientific reasoning. In this role, you will lead foundational research to advance agentic systems, shape our strategic direction, and lay the groundwork for future innovations. You will also work towards long-term ambitious research goals, while identifying intermediate milestones.

The team is focused on developing agentic systems to revolutionize the way science is performed. They engage in language model post-training, generating and curating data, layering control strategies (e.g., POMDPs) atop LLMs, and developing novel methodologies to push the field forward. They study and evaluate AI models both theoretically and empirically, aiming to advance their capabilities. Additionally, they create impactful real-world applications, such as in scientific synthesis. The goal is to develop state-of-the-art models that excel in scientific reasoning spanning literature synthesis, hypothesis formation, scientific coding, execution of computational experiments, and data analysis. These systems will collaborate with human scientists, not replace them.

Responsibilities:
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Contribute to Ai2’s open source research environment to innovate, study and advance the science of generative AI and agentic systems.
- Take a leading role in building artifacts and implementing software systems with real-world impact.
- Author and present high-quality scientific technical reports, papers, and presentations.
- Collaborate with and learn from team members across Ai2, including scientists and engineers.
- Mentor early-career researchers and interns on their projects.
- Develop collaborative relationships with relevant academic, industrial, government, and standards organizations.

Requirements and Qualifications:
- A PhD focusing on machine learning, reasoning, natural language processing, or a related area, with expertise in one or more of the following: reinforcement learning, experimental methodology, language models, the science of deep learning, or efficient algorithms for deep learning. Curiosity about all of the above is a plus.
- The ability to own and pursue a research agenda to improve AI model reasoning capabilities.
- Enthusiasm for collaboration and teamwork on ambitious projects aligned with company goals.
- Experience leading a team to solve analytical problems (a plus).
- Contributions to open-source research libraries and an interest in continuing such work (a plus).

Physical Demands and Work Environment:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time.
- The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- The ability to observe details at close range.
- Can work under deadlines.

What They Offer:
- Base salary range: $167,030 - $260,570, with generous bonus plans.
- Medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and an employee assistance program.
- Voluntary life insurance, voluntary accidental death and dismemberment, health savings account plan, healthcare reimbursement arrangement plan, and health care and dependent care flexible spending account plans.
- Company 401k plan.
- $125 per month to assist with commuting or internet expenses.
- $200 per month for fitness and wellbeing expenses.
- Up to ten sick days per year, up to seven personal days per year, up to 20 vacation days per year, and twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year.
- Annual bonuses and participation in the long-term incentive plan.
- A learning organization with weekly Ai2 Academy lectures and world-class AI experts as guest speakers.
- Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a healthy work/life balance.
- Office located in Seattle on the water.