Search Machine Learning Research Engineer (Berlin) at Perplexity AI

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Perplexity AI Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Technology, AIIndustries

Requirements

  • Deep understanding of search and retrieval systems, including quality evaluation principles and metrics
  • Proven track record with large-scale search or recommender systems
  • Strong proficiency with PyTorch, including experience in distributed training techniques and performance optimization for large models
  • Expertise in representation learning, including contrastive learning and embedding space alignment for multilingual and multimodal applications
  • Strong publication record in AI/ML conferences or workshops (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, CVPR, SIGIR)
  • Self-driven, with a strong sense of ownership and execution
  • Minimum of 3 years (preferably 5+) working on search, recommender systems, or closely related research areas

Responsibilities

  • Relentlessly push search quality forward — through models, data, tools, or any other leverage available
  • Architect and build core components of the search platform and model stack
  • Design, train, and optimize large-scale deep learning models using frameworks like PyTorch, leveraging distributed training (e.g., PyTorch Distributed, DeepSpeed, FSDP) and hardware acceleration, with a focus on retrieval and ranking models
  • Conduct advanced research in representation learning, including contrastive learning, multilingual, and multimodal modeling for search and retrieval
  • Deploy models — from boosting algorithms to LLMs — in a scalable and performant way
  • Build and optimize RAG pipelines for grounding and answer generation
  • Collaborate with Data, AI, Infrastructure, and Product teams to ensure fast and high-quality delivery

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

PyTorchDistributed TrainingDeepSpeedFSDPRepresentation LearningContrastive LearningMultilingual ModelingMultimodal ModelingRAGRetrievalRankingSearch Systems

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience level is required for this role?

A minimum of 3 years (preferably 5+) working on search, recommender systems, or closely related research areas is required.

What technical skills are essential for this position?

Strong proficiency with PyTorch, including distributed training techniques and performance optimization for large models, expertise in representation learning such as contrastive learning, and deep understanding of search and retrieval systems are essential.

Is a publication record required?

Yes, a strong publication record in AI/ML conferences or workshops such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, CVPR, SIGIR is required.

Where is this position located?

The position is located in Berlin, as indicated by the job title.

What qualities make a strong candidate for this role?

Candidates with a proven track record in large-scale search or recommender systems, self-driven mindset with strong ownership, and experience in advanced research areas like representation learning stand out.

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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