Machine Learning Engineer — AI Architecture Research
Featherless AI is hiring a Machine Learning Engineer — AI Architecture Research for a remote role. Level rates it ; you can apply on Featherless AI.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this machine learning engineer role Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
- This is listed as a remote role.
- The posting mentions PyTorch, JAX and fine tuning among its tools and skills.
- Featherless AI has 16 other open roles on Level.
AI in this role
About the Role
We’re looking for a Machine Learning Engineer focused on AI architecture research to help design, prototype, and validate next-generation model architectures. You’ll work at the intersection of research and production — turning new ideas into scalable, real-world systems.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys questioning architectural assumptions, experimenting with novel model designs, and pushing beyond standard Transformer-style approaches.
What You’ll Work On
Research and develop new neural network architectures (e.g. alternatives or extensions to Transformers, recurrent / hybrid models, long-context systems)
Design and run architecture-level experiments (scaling laws, memory mechanisms, compute trade-offs)
Prototype models end-to-end — from research code to training-ready implementations
Collaborate with inference and systems engineers to ensure architectures are deployable and efficient
Analyze model behavior, failure modes, and inductive biases
Read, reproduce, and extend cutting-edge research papers
Contribute to internal research notes, benchmarks, and open-source efforts (where applicable)
What We’re Looking For
Strong background in machine learning fundamentals and deep learning
Hands-on experience implementing model architectures from scratch
Solid understanding of:
Attention mechanisms, RNNs, state-space models, or hybrid architectures
Training dynamics, scaling behavior, and optimization
Memory, latency, and compute constraints at the model level
Comfortable working in PyTorch or JAX
Ability to move fluidly between theory, experimentation, and engineering
Clear communicator who can explain architectural trade-offs
Nice to Have
Experience with non-Transformer architectures (RNN variants, SSMs, long-context models)
Background in research-driven startups or open-source ML projects
Experience with large-scale training or custom training loops
Publications, preprints, or notable research contributions
Familiarity with inference optimization and deployment constraints
Why Join
Work on core model architecture, not just fine-tuning
Direct influence on the technical direction of a Series-A company
Small, high-caliber team with fast feedback loops
Opportunity to ship research into production
Competitive compensation + meaningful equity
How we rate this
Machine Learning Engineer — AI Architecture Research at Featherless AI rates 100 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in machine learning engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- Typical machine learning engineer job
- $199k
This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical machine learning engineer figure when pay comes up. See machine learning engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- Walk me through fine-tuning a model: what data did you use, and how did you check the result?
- Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.
- What are the limits of JAX that you've run into, and how did you work around them?
- How would you decide a model or AI system is ready to ship?
- Tell me about a time a model underperformed in production. How did you find out, and what did you change?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Fine-tuning, PyTorch, and JAX. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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