Machine Learning Research Manager

About the role

In this pivotal position, you will oversee a dynamic team of researchers focused on the integration of artificial intelligence, language processing, and radiological applications. This role is a blend of strategic leadership and active participation in research initiatives, guiding projects from initial ideas to full-scale implementation. You will play a crucial role in expanding our research capabilities while working collaboratively with clinical experts, engineers, and product teams to drive innovation. Your leadership will establish the technical direction for high-impact initiatives, ensuring that research activities align with the broader strategic goals of the organization. You will foster a culture of rigorous experimentation and intellectual curiosity within your team. Furthermore, you will be responsible for translating complex research findings into actionable insights that can be understood and utilized by diverse stakeholders. This position requires a proactive approach to identifying emerging opportunities and potential risks within the research pipeline. Ultimately, you will be a key architect in building sustainable and scalable solutions that leverage cutting-edge machine learning methodologies.

Key facts

What you'll do

Orchestrate and supervise a multidisciplinary team of research scientists, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and performance guidance to maximize individual and team potential.

Define and evolve the technical roadmap for machine learning and natural language processing initiatives, ensuring alignment with clinical and operational requirements.

Design and implement robust experimental frameworks to evaluate the performance and reliability of advanced AI models under challenging real-world conditions.

Champion the adoption of transformer-based architectures and large language models to solve intricate problems in radiological and clinical contexts.

Establish rigorous validation and testing protocols to ensure that research outputs meet the highest standards of accuracy, robustness, and generalizability.

Liaise continuously with clinical domain experts, engineering squads, and product management to clarify requirements and translate complex concepts into executable research plans.

Identify and mitigate risks associated with data quality, model bias, and operational constraints, developing contingency strategies to maintain project momentum.

Lead the integration of models into production environments, collaborating closely with software engineers to ensure seamless deployment and scalability.

Cultivate an environment of knowledge sharing by organizing technical discussions, disseminating best practices, and documenting key learnings for the broader organization.

Represent the research function in high-level discussions, articulating the trade-offs between scientific exploration and practical implementation to inform strategic decisions.

Secure necessary resources and budget allocations to support long-term research goals and infrastructure development.

Evaluate emerging technologies and academic advancements to determine their potential impact and applicability to the company's mission.

Foster collaboration across departments to ensure that research efforts are synchronized with product development cycles and market demands.

Serve as a mentor and thought leader, elevating the technical capabilities and career growth of junior researchers through coaching and constructive feedback.

Requirements

Possess a minimum of 6 years of practical experience in applied machine learning research, with a proven track record of guiding projects from conception to production.

Demonstrate substantial experience in managing teams or leading collaborative research efforts, showcasing strong coaching, prioritization, and organizational skills.

Maintain a solid foundation in natural language processing and contemporary deep learning techniques, with a particular emphasis on transformer models and large language models.

Have direct experience in applying machine learning to complex, real-world problems that involve significant uncertainty, inconsistent data quality, and operational limitations.

Show proficient hands-on experience with contemporary machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch and a deep understanding of standard model development lifecycles.

Exhibit a proven ability to work effectively with domain experts and cross-functional teams, especially in environments where trust, rapid iteration, and clear communication are essential.

Possess exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of guiding senior researchers and aligning non-technical stakeholders on research objectives, constraints, and trade-offs.

Hold a strong commitment to ethical AI practices, ensuring that research methodologies adhere to principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Nice to have

Possess a background in healthcare, clinical AI, biomedical machine learning, or experience working within regulated and privacy-sensitive environments.

Demonstrate familiarity with radiology, clinical documentation, medical terminology, or workflows that involve close collaboration with clinicians.

Have experience in deploying large language models or NLP systems into production settings, managing the complexities of inference at scale.

Contribute to research culture through active mentorship, setting technical standards, or taking on organizational leadership roles that drive engineering excellence.

Show knowledge of cloud-based machine learning workflows and modern research infrastructure, including containerization and orchestration tools.

Express a willingness to collaborate and potentially work from the company's San Francisco office, enhancing team cohesion and in-person collaboration.

Practical notes

This position is available for full-time employees based in the United States.

The benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA) that features employer matching, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA), and a 401(k) plan.

Employees enjoy 11 paid company holidays, flexible paid time off (PTO), an annual company-wide offsite event, periodic team outings, and an annual stipend for equipment.