AI Engineer, Applied ML at Perplexity AI

San Francisco, California, United States

Perplexity AI Logo
$200,000 – $300,000Compensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Technology, AIIndustries

Requirements

  • 5+ years experience building and shipping robust ML/AI models for large-scale, user-facing or data-driven products
  • Deep expertise in deep learning (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX), LLMs, information retrieval, content summarization, recommendation systems, NLP, and/or ranking
  • Strong software engineering skills (Python, production-quality codebases, collaborative development)
  • In-depth experience with the full ML lifecycle: data analysis, feature engineering, iterative model development, rigorous evaluation, and ongoing monitoring/improvement
  • Proven collaborator and communicator; excels in high-velocity, cross-functional teams
  • Curious, driven by end-user/product impact, and passionate about advancing the state of applied ML and AI
  • BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Responsibilities

  • Apply state-of-the-art ML and LLM techniques to solve problems spanning: Personalization (LLM memory, context summarization, retrieval and ranking); Query Understanding (intent modeling, rewriting, agentic decomposition); Content Discovery (feed ranking and surfacing)
  • Rigorously evaluate LLM/ML models with both offline and online techniques, designing experiments and metrics that provide deep insight into quality and impact
  • Own the entire model lifecycle from research to production: data analysis, modeling, evaluation, offline/online A/B testing, and iterative improvement
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with engineers, PMs, data scientists, and designers to ensure our AI drives meaningful product improvements
  • Stay at the forefront of ML/AI innovation by evaluating and incorporating emerging research and algorithms into the product lifecycle

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

PyTorchTensorFlowJAXLLMsInformation RetrievalContent SummarizationRecommendation SystemsNLPRankingPythonMachine LearningDeep LearningA/B Testing

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for this AI Engineer position?

The salary range is $200K - $300K.

Is this a remote position or does it require office work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What skills are required for this Applied ML Engineer role?

Required skills include 5+ years building ML/AI models, deep expertise in deep learning (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX), LLMs, information retrieval, NLP, ranking, and strong software engineering in Python.

What is the team environment like at Perplexity AI?

The role involves collaborating cross-functionally with engineers, PMs, data scientists, and designers in high-velocity teams, emphasizing curiosity, end-user impact, and advancing applied ML/AI.

What makes a strong candidate for this position?

Strong candidates have 5+ years in ML/AI for large-scale products, expertise in deep learning and LLMs, full ML lifecycle experience, and bonus for LLM prompt engineering, RAG, personalization challenges, or open-source contributions.

Perplexity AI

Advanced answer engine providing reliable information

About Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI provides an advanced answer engine that delivers accurate and reliable responses to user queries. The platform uses current sources to ensure the information is both precise and relevant. It caters to a wide audience, including individuals looking for quick answers and businesses needing detailed information. Unlike many competitors, Perplexity AI emphasizes high-quality, source-backed answers, making it a valuable resource for users seeking trustworthy data. The company's goal is to meet the increasing demand for immediate access to reliable information, generating revenue through subscription fees, advertising, and partnerships.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2022Year Founded
$890MTotal Funding
LATE_VCCompany Stage
Data & Analytics, Consumer SoftwareIndustries
201-500Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Company Equity

Risks

Pending copyright infringement class action poses legal and financial challenges.
Competition from Google's AI Mode could impact user retention and market share.
Otterly.AI's brand visibility tool may pressure Perplexity to maintain high performance.

Differentiation

Perplexity AI integrates large language models with search engines for precise responses.
The platform offers an open-source environment, enhancing public access to AI tools.
Perplexity's strategic acquisition of Carbon boosts its data connectivity capabilities.

Upsides

Partnership with Tripadvisor enhances travel planning with personalized recommendations.
$500M funding round increases valuation to $9 billion, supporting growth and innovation.
Integration with FactSet attracts financial clients with enhanced data accessibility.

Land your dream remote job 3x faster with AI