Senior Applied AI/ML Scientist

Kindo • Los Angeles, CA

5h • $170,000 - $220,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Applied AI/ML Scientist with a specialization in deep learning and generative models to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in the architecture and implementation of our AI modeling efforts, with a specific focus on post-training and fine-tuning large language models.

While this role requires deep technical expertise, we value a collaborative environment where good ideas flourish regardless of title. You will work within a team that empowers engineers to own their stack end-to-end. The ideal candidate has strong AI/ML fundamentals and can bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical production systems. You should be comfortable working with Agentic LLM usage and modern fine-tuning approaches, ranging from Supervised Fine-Tuning to Knowledge Distillation to RL, to create robust, reliable enterprise solutions.

You will be an early engineer at a high-growth startup, playing a significant role in building and bringing a new generative AI product to market. We are looking for a systems-thinker who cares as much about model evaluation and production stability as they do about algorithmic innovation.

Requirements

• Education: PhD or MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience: 3-5+ years of experience in AI/ML with a strong focus on deep learning, generative models, and LLMs.
• Effective AI Collaboration: You don't just "use" AI tools (e.g. Cursor, Claude Code, Devin, etc.); you know how to effectively partner with them to drive real efficiency. You know how to thoughtfully prompt, delegate, and iterate with these AI to achieve concrete productivity gains and genuinely accelerate your development process.
• Evaluation Expertise: Demonstrated experience designing metrics and building evaluation harnesses for non-deterministic models. You understand that robust evals are the cornerstone of successful AI products.
• Fine-Tuning Expertise: Deep understanding of the post-training landscape, with practical experience in techniques such as SFT, PEFT (LoRA/QLoRA), and Knowledge Distillation.
• Applied Frameworks: Proficiency with the modern open-source LLM ecosystem. Experience with distributed training (e.g., Accelerate, FSDP, DeepSpeed) and high-level modeling libraries.
• Strong Fundamentals: Deep conceptual understanding of the mathematical and architectural underpinnings of AI/ML (gradients, attention mechanisms, loss landscapes). While we don't code in raw TensorFlow/PyTorch daily, we value the first-principles understanding that comes with knowing these layers.
• Systems Engineering: Experience with software engineering best practices and an ability to write clean, production-ready code. You should be comfortable with the "Ops" side of MLOps.
• Problem Solving: Strong critical thinking skills with a pragmatic focus on shipping solutions that work for users, not just maximizing academic benchmarks.

Nice To Haves

• LLM Production Experience: Practical experience deploying and maintaining LLMs in a production environment.
• Advanced Alignment: Familiarity with emerging alignment research (e.g., DPO, RLVR) and an ability to determine when these complex methods add value over simpler baselines.
• Agentic Concepts: Strong conceptual understanding of Agentic architectures (planning, tool use, ReAct loops, etc.).
• Enterprise Context: Knowledge of enterprise security best practices and experience with Enterprise SaaS software.
• Research Impact: A track record of staying current with arXiv papers and successfully translating a research concept into a working feature.

Responsibilities

• Rigorous Evaluation (Evals): Architect, build, and maintain comprehensive evaluation pipelines. You believe that "you can't improve what you don't measure," and you will be responsible for creating evals that accurately reflect production performance and agentic reliability.
• Post-Training & Fine-Tuning: Apply expert knowledge of model alignment and post-training strategies to tailor our in-house LLMs for enterprise capabilities. You should be adept at selecting and implementing the right technique for the job. Whether that is Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT), Knowledge Distillation, PEFT, or leveraging alignment methods like Reinforcement Learning from Verifiable Rewards (RLVR) when appropriate.
• Hands-on Data Engineering & Strategy: Go beyond just "using" data. You will be responsible for the end-to-end data lifecycle—sourcing, cleaning, curating, and modifying datasets to maximize model effectiveness and domain specificity.
• Training & Inference Optimization: Utilize and optimize the open-source LLM ecosystem for the full model lifecycle. You will leverage distributed training tools (e.g., Accelerate, DeepSpeed/FSDP) and high-throughput serving engines (e.g., vLLM, TensorRT-LLM) to ensure efficiency from training to production.
• End-to-End Ownership: Take a systems-level approach to AI. You will not just build models in isolation but will be responsible for the E2E lifecycle of the model, including how it integrates into production and interacts with the broader application.
• Collaboration & Mentorship: Work closely with cross-functional teams to translate product requirements into technical AI solutions. While this is an individual contributor role, you will be expected to mentor junior members, review code, and contribute to a culture where technical ideas are debated openly and constructively.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (Range: $170k-$220k Base) and Equity
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited vacation and paid time off policies
• A chance to be part of a groundbreaking company shaping the future of generative AI

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior