AI Research Lead at Perplexity AI

San Francisco, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

AI, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of experience working on relevant AI/ML projects with 3+ years in a technical leadership role
Proven track record of leading and mentoring technical and research teams
A Computer Science graduate degree at a premier academic institution
Deep expertise with large-scale LLMs and Deep Learning systems
Strong programming skills with versatility across multiple languages and frameworks
Demonstrated ability to set technical vision and drive execution
Experience with pre-training and post-training techniques (self-supervised learning along with SFT/DPO/GRPO/PPO)
Self-starter with exceptional ownership mentality and ability to work in ambiguous environments
Passion for solving challenging problems and pushing the boundaries of AI research

Responsibilities

Define and execute the macro research direction across multiple modalities, including post-training LLMs for agent trajectories and future mid-training initiatives
Lead strategic research planning and roadmap development to advance Sonar model capabilities
Drive innovation in supervised and reinforcement learning techniques for query answering
Collaborate with leadership to align research priorities with product and business objectives
Coach and mentor a team of AI research scientists and engineers, fostering their technical and professional growth
Establish the long-term macro research direction across the team, including across different modalities
Lead hiring and onboarding of new research talent
Create a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and innovation
Post-train SOTA LLMs on query answering using cutting-edge supervised and reinforcement learning techniques
Own and optimize the full stack data, training, and evaluation pipelines required for LLM post-training
Deliver Sonar models that provide SOTA query answering performance
Drive research into agent trajectories and multi-modal capabilities
Lead the technical roadmap for eventual mid-training investments
Work closely with engineering teams to integrate Sonar models into our product
Partner with product teams to understand user needs and translate them into research priorities
Collaborate with data teams to leverage our unique query/answer dataset effectively
Communicate research progress and findings to stakeholders across the organization

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

LLMsSupervised LearningReinforcement LearningPost-TrainingMulti-ModalAgent TrajectoriesModel TrainingEvaluation PipelinesResearch StrategyTeam MentorshipHiringData Pipelines

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience is required for the AI Research Lead position?

Candidates need a minimum of 5 years of experience in relevant AI/ML projects, including 3+ years in a technical leadership role, a Computer Science graduate degree from a premier academic institution, deep expertise with large-scale LLMs and Deep Learning systems, strong programming skills across multiple languages and frameworks, and experience with pre-training and post-training techniques like SFT/DPO/GRPO/PPO.

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

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the salary or compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What does the team environment look like at Perplexity AI?

The role involves leading and mentoring a team of AI research scientists and engineers, creating a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and innovation.

What makes a strong candidate for this AI Research Lead role?

A strong candidate will have proven leadership experience mentoring teams, deep LLM expertise, the ability to set technical vision and drive execution, and a self-starter mentality for ambiguous environments; a PhD in Machine Learning or related fields is a nice-to-have.

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.

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