AI Researcher 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
AI, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

  • Proven experience with large-scale LLMs and Deep Learning systems
  • Strong programming skills in Python/PyTorch; versatility is a plus
  • Experience with post-training techniques and reinforcement learning
  • Self-starter with a willingness to take ownership of tasks
  • Passion for tackling challenging problems
  • Minimum 2-6 years of experience on relevant projects (depending on seniority level)
  • Nice-to-have
  • PhD in Machine Learning, AI, Systems, or related areas
  • Experience in post-training LLMs with SFT/DPO/GRPO
  • C++/CUDA programming skills
  • Experience building LLM training frameworks
  • Academic publications and research impact
  • Experience with agent systems and multi-step reasoning
  • Background in personalization and preference learning

Responsibilities

  • Post-train SOTA LLMs using the latest supervised and reinforcement learning techniques (SFT/DPO/GRPO)
  • Leverage rich query/answer dataset to scale model performance across Sonar, Deep Research, Comet, and Search products
  • Stay current with the latest LLM research, especially in model training, optimization, and personalization techniques
  • Implement preference optimization and personalization capabilities to enhance user experience
  • Invent in-house improvements and optimizations to enhance SOTA models
  • Turn research ideas into algorithms and run experiments to launch new models
  • Own full-stack data, training, and evaluation pipelines required for model development
  • Build robust and effective training frameworks (on top of Megatron/PyTorch) for post-training LLMs
  • Implement necessary infrastructure and components to support cutting-edge model training at scale
  • Integrate models seamlessly into the product ecosystem
  • Work closely with engineering teams to integrate models into Perplexity's product suite
  • Collaborate across teams to ensure cohesive AI experiences throughout the platform
  • Partner with product teams to understand user needs and translate them into model improvements

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

LLMSFTDPOGRPOReinforcement LearningPost-trainingModel TrainingPreference OptimizationPersonalizationRL InfrastructureData PipelinesTraining PipelinesEvaluation PipelinesSupervised Fine-tuning

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the AI Researcher 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 AI Researcher role?

Required skills include proven experience with large-scale LLMs and Deep Learning systems, strong programming skills in Python/PyTorch, experience with post-training techniques and reinforcement learning, and being a self-starter with 2-6 years of relevant experience.

What is the team structure like at Perplexity AI?

You'll work on one of three specialized teams: Core Research Team (horizontal, focusing on base models and infrastructure), Agent Products Team (vertical, for Deep Research Agent and Labs/Canvas), or Comet Agent Team (vertical, for Comet Agent product).

What makes a strong candidate for this AI Researcher position?

Strong candidates have proven experience with large-scale LLMs, strong Python/PyTorch skills, expertise in post-training and RL techniques, a self-starter mindset, and 2-6 years of relevant experience; a PhD and versatility are nice-to-haves.

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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