Research Scientist/Engineer

About the role

This position operates with high autonomy to shape research direction inside a lean, fast-paced team. The role directly influences research trajectory and priorities on a daily basis. You will own the definition of research problems from initial framing through to final synthesis, determining which questions merit investigation and which avenues should be deprioritized. The hire will act as a primary architect of the technical roadmap, translating abstract ambitions into concrete experimental plans that can be executed by the team. You will be responsible for designing rigorous methodologies that withstand scrutiny and produce findings that can be independently validated by peers. A core part of this role involves setting the standard for rigor and reproducibility, ensuring that every result is traceable, documented, and defensible. You will work closely with cross-functional partners to align deep research insights with the strategic goals of the foundation, ensuring that output remains relevant and impactful. Finally, the position requires constant reflection on the ethical implications and long-term consequences of the research trajectory, guiding the team toward an abundant future.

Key facts

What you'll do

Other researchers rely on documented methods and results to reproduce findings and extend studies, so the team maintains clear records of experiments and outcomes. You will design and execute a portfolio of experiments that stress-test core assumptions behind advanced AI systems, identifying failure modes before they scale. The role involves developing novel evaluation frameworks that can quantify emergent capabilities and alignment behaviors in complex models. You will implement and maintain the infrastructure required to run large-scale training and inference experiments with reliability and efficiency. Another core responsibility is to translate ambiguous research questions into well-defined hypotheses and measurable success criteria. You will author detailed technical documentation that captures not just the results, but the rationale behind methodological choices and dead ends. The position requires active collaboration with engineers to deploy research prototypes into production environments where they can be rigorously tested. You will analyze high-dimensional data streams to detect subtle patterns that indicate progress or stagnation in model capabilities. Finally, you will represent the research output of the team in high-stakes discussions with stakeholders, ensuring that decisions are grounded in empirical evidence rather than intuition.

Requirements

Advanced degrees in quantitative fields are required, with confirmation of the exact field A bachelor's degree is required, and exceptional candidates from non-traditional paths remain open to consideration. Expert-level coding skills in PyTorch and JAX are required to support writing clean, reproducible research code. Deep foundations in deep learning, graphical models, and information theory are required to underpin sophisticated AGI research. Comfort with high autonomy and direct influence on research direction within a lean, fast-paced environment is required for performance. The role may require security clearance, and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency may apply. You must be able to demonstrate mastery of the specific technical skills listed, as these are non-negotiable for success in this position. Candidates must be comfortable operating without close supervision, managing their own time and deliverables against ambiguous objectives. A proven track record of producing rigorous, reproducible work is essential, as shortcuts cannot be tolerated in this research context.

Practical notes

The role may require security clearance, and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency may apply.

Typical interview steps

Research interviews usually include a presentation of past work, a technical discussion, and sometimes a research proposal exercise. Candidates may be asked to design a study or critique a method. Depth of understanding is tested more than speed. Interviewers often ask you to present your past work in depth. Being ready to defend every methodological choice is the core preparation.

Good to know

Research work evaluates rigor and reproducibility as core standards. Researchers commonly maintain detailed lab books or version-controlled analysis code to track progress. General tools for research include frameworks for experimentation and analysis. Clear communication of methods and results defines effective research practice.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview: what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Research careers grow from junior researcher to senior scientist, principal, and lab or research director roles. Some people move into applied research and product work. Publication record or demonstrable impact drives progression, depending on the setting. Research careers reward a strong publication or delivery record. Applied research roles value impact on products as much as novelty.

About the company

Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward an abundant future for all. We believe the coming years will bring an era of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement as exponential progress in AI converges with central advances in other fields to dramatically accelerate innovation.