Senior AI Engineer, Scientific Training & Collaboration
About The Position
FutureHouse is a non-profit research organization using AI to accelerate frontier biology research. We provide biology researchers with the tools, training, and infrastructure to apply AI to ambitious questions at the cutting edge of biological discovery. Our flagship program today is the AI-for-Science Independent Postdoctoral Fellowship, which supports early-career scientists at the intersection of frontier AI and leading academic research. The Fellowship provides what many programs cannot: industry-grade compute, dedicated software engineering support, and mentorship from world-class academic co-advisors. We are seeking a Senior AI Engineer to serve as a technical collaborator, educator, and AI engineering lead for our Postdoctoral Fellows and research partners. In this interdisciplinary role, you will design, build, and deploy AI agents and tools for biology projects spanning neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, and other sub-domains while working closely with researchers to understand their goals, workflows, and constraints. You will help solve complex scientific problems by providing technical software solutions and identifying where AI can have the greatest impact. You will also play a central role in teaching and coaching Fellows, helping them build fluency with AI tools to integrate them into their research. This includes developing practical tutorials, supporting ongoing learning, and serving as a bridge between frontier AI capabilities and real-world scientific needs. Success in this role requires strong communication, the ability to explain technical concepts clearly, and a collaborative approach to working with highly skilled researchers. The ideal candidate combines strong software engineering and AI/ML expertise with scientific curiosity, sound judgment, and project management skills. They are comfortable operating independently, building production-quality systems, and managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. An M.S. in science or equivalent research experience in an academic lab or life sciences company is required. A PhD or advanced research experience in biology, chemistry, or a related field is strongly preferred. This position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, with competitive compensation and benefits.
Requirements
- 5+ years of machine-learning and software engineering experience, including a track record of building and shipping production-quality software that real users depend on.
- Strong engineering foundation, including proficiency in Python and comfort picking up new tools and frameworks quickly.
- Experience building with LLMs, AI/ML systems, agent architectures, or AI-enabled applications.
- An M.S. in science or equivalent research experience in an academic lab or life sciences company.
- Comfortable operating independently, building from scratch, driving clarity in ambiguous situations, and wearing multiple hats.
- Demonstrated ability to teach, coach, mentor, or train technical or scientific audiences.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to scope ambiguous problems, prioritize effectively, manage dependencies, and drive work to completion.
- Willingness and ability to learn new scientific domains quickly.
Nice To Haves
- Ph.D. or equivalent research experience in biology, chemistry, bioengineering, computational biology, neuroscience, or a related scientific discipline.
- Fluency in TypeScript and/or other programming languages.
Responsibilities
- Perform cutting edge research by applying AI to biological research problems in collaboration with post-doctoral Fellows and other research collaborators.
- Teach Fellows and other collaborators to build, adapt, and use AI tools in their research by providing ongoing technical coaching and support.
- Develop and deliver practical technical instruction, workshops, and curriculum to help researchers build competency with AI agents, LLM-powered applications, and related tools.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Full healthcare coverage — we pay 100% of premiums for you and your dependents
- 401(k) company matching
- Mental health support through Rula, our in-network therapist and psychiatrist network with fast availability
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave for maternity, paternity, and adoption
- Lunch is on us every day you're in the office
- Regular team offsites and company events
- A mission-driven culture where smart people do their best work and actually enjoy doing it
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
