Research Partner

About the Role: We are an AGI advancement company at the forefront of AI research and data solutions. Our clients include leading AI research labs (e.g., OpenAI, Google, Amazon, Meta), and we provide high-quality data annotation and AI solutions that fuel their breakthroughs. We're looking for a Research Partner who is both deeply technical and business savvy - someone who can engage with top AI researchers, understand complex problems, and craft solutions that drive our sales forward. This role is ideal for a candidate passionate about advanced AI (and the path to AGI) who can bridge cutting-edge research needs with practical, scalable solutions. Key Responsibilities • Technical Pre-Sales Support: Provide expert technical support during the sales process. Work closely with account executives to address technical questions, craft tailored demos or proof-of-concepts, and assist in closing deals with major AI research organizations. • Customer Engagement: Engage directly with researchers and engineers from leading AI labs (e.g., OpenAI, Google, Amazon, Meta) to deeply understand their needs and challenges. Ask the right questions to uncover pain points and requirements, and use your insight to propose tailored solutions leveraging our data annotation platform and services. • Solution Design & Presentation: Design complex solutions (e.g. custom data annotation workflows or AI pipeline integrations) that address the client's specific research goals. Package and present these technical solutions in a clear, compelling way - whether in meetings, written proposals, or formal presentations. Demonstrate deep expertise in your domain (AI research or data annotation) to instill confidence, while keeping explanations accessible to varied stakeholders. • Procurement & Deal Facilitation: Occasionally interface with procurement and legal teams on the client side to facilitate the sales process. Help translate technical requirements into documentation or agreements, address any concerns about data handling or IP, and ensure that the path from technical validation to contract signing is smooth and efficient. • Collaborative Feedback Loop: Work hand-in-hand with internal product, engineering, and operations teams to relay customer feedback and insights. If a researcher needs a new feature or a tweak to our service, you'll champion those requests internally. Collaborate to refine our product offerings and packaging based on real-world use cases and emerging needs in the AI research community. • Thought Leadership & Learning: Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in AI research and data annotation methodologies. Be a trusted advisor to our customers by providing thought leadership - whether it's insights on best practices for training data quality or awareness of new trends (like novel LLM fine-tuning techniques). Continuously broaden your expertise so you can speak the language of both AI researchers and data scientists. Requirements • Strong Technical Background: Deep expertise in either advanced AI research or data annotation - you do not need to be an expert in both. For example, you might have experience developing machine learning models/LLMs or conducting AI research OR you have led large-scale data labeling projects and understand annotation tools and quality processes in depth. The key is that you can hold your own in technical discussions in one of these domains and are eager to learn about the other. • Pre-Sales / Solutions Experience: Proven experience in a pre-sales engineer, solutions architect, or similar customer-facing technical role. You have a track record of working with clients to understand requirements, designing custom solutions, and effectively communicating the technical value proposition. Experience crafting proposals, doing product demos, or technical workshops for customers is a big plus. • Exceptional Communication Skills: Excellent ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences. You can confidently discuss the nuances of ML models or data pipelines with a PhD-level researcher, then switch to a high-level, outcome-focused discussion for an executive or procurement officer. Strong written communication for proposals and documentation is equally important. • Bridge Between Research and Business: Demonstrated ability to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research teams and business objectives. You understand the mindset and needs of AI researchers, and you can translate those into strategic solutions that make business sense. In other words, you can align what the researchers want to achieve with how our services can deliver value (and you spot new opportunities this synergy creates). • Location & Travel: U.S.-based candidate who is able to travel occasionally to the SF Bay Area. You thrive in a remote-work environment but also value face-to-face interactions when necessary to move projects forward or build relationships. • Education & Experience: Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI/ML or a related field (or equivalent practical experience). Mid-level experience in the field (approximately 3-7 years in relevant roles) with evidence of continued growth. You should have enough experience to work independently with clients, but also the drive to rapidly grow your skills and take on more responsibility in a scaling company. • Passion for AI/AGI: A genuine interest in artificial general intelligence and the future of AI. You stay curious about new AI breakthroughs and are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the next generation of AI advancements. This passion enables you to connect with our customers (who are AI pioneers) and fuels your creativity in problem-solving. What We Offer • Impactful Work: An opportunity to work with the world's top AI research teams and contribute to projects that are pushing the boundaries of intelligence. Your efforts will directly support advancements that could shape the future of AI and AGI. • Growth & Learning: A dynamic environment where you'll be exposed to the latest in AI technology and data practices. We invest in our team's professional growth - you'll learn new skills, take on increasing responsibilities, and carve out a career path in a cutting-edge field. • Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate, talented professionals who care about innovation, quality, and customer success. We foster open communication, knowledge sharing, and a mission-driven atmosphere. • Competitive Benefits: We offer a competitive salary, performance-based incentives, comprehensive health benefits, and flexible work arrangements. As a fast-growing company in a frontier tech domain, we also offer the excitement of a startup with the stability of an established customer base. Compensation Range - USD 150,000 to USD 250,000 If you're a technically skilled communicator who enjoys solving hard problems and wants to partner with the luminaries of the AI world, we want to hear from you! Apply now to join us on our mission to accelerate the path to AGI through world-class data solutions and expertise. Apply tot his job