Research Engineer

Firecrawl•San Francisco, CA

45d•$210,000 - $275,000•Hybrid

About The Position

You'll build the evaluation systems that tell us whether Firecrawl actually works. That sounds simple. It isn't. Our core promise, convert any URL into clean, structured, LLM-ready data reliably, is hard to measure rigorously across millions of different websites, formats, and edge cases. As the systems we're measuring get more complex, the question "did that work?" gets harder, not easier. This isn't an eval role where you inherit a framework and run benchmarks. You'll design the metrics, build the pipelines, generate the datasets, and own the feedback loop from output quality back to model and product decisions. If you care about what "good" actually means and have the engineering depth to measure it, this is the role.

Requirements

4+ years in ML, research engineering, or data-heavy backend, with real evaluation work
The engineering depth to build real evaluation systems, not just run existing ones
Comfortable owning ambiguous problems where the metric itself has to be invented
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We're not able to sponsor visas right now, though that may change down the line.

Nice To Haves

Someone who only wants to run benchmarks someone else designed
A pure researcher who won't build the systems, or a pure engineer who won't think about methodology
Someone who needs a fully-specced ticket to start

Responsibilities

Design the metrics that define what "good output" actually means across millions of sites, formats, and edge cases
Build the pipelines and harnesses that measure quality rigorously and at scale
Generate and curate the datasets that make evaluation trustworthy
Own the feedback loop from output quality back to model and product decisions
Turn "did that work?" into an answer the whole team can act on

Benefits

Salary that makes sense — $210,000-$275,000/year (U.S.-based), based on impact, not tenure
Gain competitive equity in what you're helping build
15 days mandatory PTO, anything after 24 days, just ask (holidays excluded); take the time you need to recharge
12 weeks fully paid parental leave, for all parents
$100/month wellness stipend for the gym, therapy, massages, or whatever keeps you human
Expense up to $1,000/year toward anything that helps you grow professionally
Team offsites
3 paid months off after 4 years, do something fun and new
Full coverage, no red tape — Medical, dental, and vision (100% for employees, 50% for spouse/kids) — no weird loopholes, just care that works
Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance — coverage for life's curveballs
Optional accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and voluntary life insurance for extra peace of mind
Talk to a doctor from your couch
401(k) plan
Access to FSAs and commuter benefits to help your wallet out a bit
Pet insurance — Because fur babies are family too
Snacks, drinks, team lunches, intense ping pong, and peak startup energy
A loaner electric bike to get you around the city, on us