AI Research Scientist
At a glance
Mid-level AI Research role at webAI. Austin · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $135,000–$232,000 across the United States.
webAI has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
aimlroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Design and train new model architectures, including Transformers, State-Space Models or Diffusion, for complex business problems
- Set up hypothesis tests by choosing benchmarks and loss functions that reflect human intent
- Track current academic work and turn new findings into model improvements
- Build proof-of-concept models that show gains in accuracy, speed or reasoning
- Record research results and help engineers understand the models’ mathematical details
What you bring
- At least five years of postdoctoral or industry research, equivalent university experience, or a comparable research record
- A PhD in machine learning, mathematics, physics or another highly quantitative field
- Strong command of linear algebra, calculus and probability, plus deep Python and deep learning framework skills
- A record of research publications or significant model releases
Who this fits
This hands-on research role suits someone comfortable with experimentation and uncertain problems, whose work spans scientific discovery and practical model impact. You’ll work alongside engineers and mentor them on model fundamentals. The job is based in the downtown Austin office.
From the employer
About Us:
webAI is pioneering the future of artificial intelligence by establishing the first distributed AI infrastructure dedicated to personalized AI. We recognize the evolving demands of a data-driven society for scalability and flexibility, and we firmly believe that the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Our mission is to build a future where a company's valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private, enabling the deployment of large-scale AI models directly on standard consumer hardware without compromising the information embedded within those models. We are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of our users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business. We are a team driven by truth, ownership, tenacity, and humility, and we seek individuals who resonate with these core values and are passionate about shaping the next generation of AI.
About the Role:
The AI Research Scientist will work within webAI’s Intelligence Lab as the “brain” of development. Their primary objective is to push the boundaries of what is possible. While they collaborate with engineers, their success is measured by the novelty and efficacy of their models, often operating in a high-uncertainty environment. This individual will work closely with research leadership and applied AI teams to advance scientific discovery while ensuring that innovations translate into real-world impact.
This is a hands-on research role for someone who loves experimentation, solving complex problems, and building AI that is powerful, efficient, and privacy-preserving. This position is based in-office at our downtown headquarters.
Responsibilities:
Algorithm Development: Design and train novel architectures (e.g., Transformers, State-Space Models, Diffusion) to solve complex business problems.
Experimental Design: Lead the hypothesis-testing phase, defining evaluation benchmarks and loss functions that align with human intent.
Literature Leadership: Stay at the bleeding edge of ArXiv and academic conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR) to implement or improve upon the latest research.
Prototyping: Build "proof-of-concept" models that demonstrate a significant leap in accuracy, speed, or reasoning capability.
Knowledge Transfer: Document findings and mentor engineers on the mathematical nuances of the models.
Qualifications:
Experience: 5+ years of post-doc or industrial research experience or equivalent university time with a deep experience that matches WIL objectives to include with a track record of publications or significant model releases.
Technical Depth: Mastery of linear algebra, calculus, and probability; deep proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks.
Education: PhD in Machine Learning, Mathematics, Physics, or a highly quantitative field.
We at webAI are committed to living out the core values we have put in place as the foundation on which we operate as a team. We seek individuals who exemplify the following:
Truth - Emphasizing transparency and honesty in every interaction and decision.
Ownership - Taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, demonstrating commitment to the success of our clients.
Tenacity - Persisting in the face of challenges and setbacks, continually striving for excellence and improvement.
Humility - Maintaining a respectful and learning-oriented mindset, acknowledging the strengths and contributions of others.
Benefits:
We strive to provide competitive benefits to all employees. The benefits listed in this posting generally apply to U.S.-based employees. For employees hired outside the United States, benefits may vary based on local law, country-specific requirements, and the employment platform or entity through which the employee is hired.
Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package
Including a high-deductible HSA option with company contribution
401k match (US-based only)
Flexible PTO Policy
Parental leave for eligible employees
Continuing education support
Basic, company-paid life insurance
Supplemental life insurance
Company-paid short and long term disability
Free parking for in-office employees
webAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of webAI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.