AI Applied Research Lead

HappyRobot is a platform to build and deploy AI workers that automate communication. Our AI workers connect to any system or data source to handle phone calls, email messages, and more.

We target the logistics industry, which relies heavily on communication to book, check on, and pay for freight. Our primary clients include freight brokers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, shippers, warehouses, and other supply chain enterprises, as well as tech startups.

We have raised a Series A round from a16z and YC, and are growing rapidly, on track to reach double-digit ARR by June this year.

We are looking for passionate, driven individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment. This role requires dedication, resilience, and a readiness to push limits, often working from 9 to 9, six days a week.

We are seeking an AI Applied Research Lead to drive innovation and lead the development of advanced voice AI systems. You will work at the intersection of research and production, shaping the future of our AI capabilities while ensuring tangible business impact.

• Lead applied research initiatives to enhance NLU, speech synthesis, and voice interaction models
• Evaluate and fine-tune LLMs, ASR, and TTS systems for high-performance production use
• Manage and mentor a team of applied researchers and ML engineers
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to deploy models into real-time, production-grade systems
• Identify research trends and emerging technologies to inform our product roadmap
• Drive experimentation frameworks, performance evaluation, and data strategy
• Foster a culture of innovation, speed, and scientific rigor

• PhD or MS in Machine Learning, NLP, Speech Processing, or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in applied research roles, including 2 years in managing or mentoring technical teams
• Deep knowledge of transformer-based architectures and experience with LLMs
• Strong programming skills in Python, with experience using ML libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face
• Proven ability to lead projects from research to deployment
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative leadership style

• Opportunity to work at a high-growth AI startup backed by top investors like a16z and YC
• Fast growth trajectory with double-digit ARR expected soon
• Ownership and autonomy in your projects, with a fast-paced environment
• Competitive salary and equity in a high-growth startup
• Work with a world-class team of engineers and innovators

The personal data you provide during the application process will be processed by HappyRobot Inc. as Data Controller. By submitting your CV, you consent to the processing of your data for recruitment purposes. Your data will be kept confidential and deleted after three months of inactivity, in accordance with GDPR. You have rights to access, rectify, delete, or oppose the processing of your data, which you can exercise by submitting a request as detailed on our website. By applying, you confirm you have read and understood this privacy clause.

• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Department / Functional Area: Engineering
• Experience: 5+ years
• Vacancy: 1