VP of Research (Machine Learning)

Stack

Responsibilities

• ▹Define and evolve the research roadmap for the platform's core AI intelligence, including context representation, memory, reasoning, planning, and orchestration
• ▹Evaluate and determine when to develop proprietary model architectures versus leveraging or adapting frontier open-source and commercial AI models
• ▹Design evaluation frameworks that measure real-world performance, robustness, safety, and long-term system behavior beyond traditional benchmark metrics
• ▹Lead the company's AI alignment, safety, and guardrail strategy as a core component of product development
• ▹Drive research and experimentation across advanced machine learning techniques: RAG, Mixture of Experts, model distillation, multi-agent orchestration, multimodal AI systems
• ▹Partner closely with product and engineering teams to define and execute the intelligence strategy for AI-powered applications
• ▹Establish and maintain high standards for research quality, technical judgment, and engineering excellence across the organization

Requirements

• ▹Extensive experience designing, building, and deploying machine learning systems in production environments
• ▹Strong technical expertise in model behavior, failure analysis, system evaluation, and long-term AI performance
• ▹Proven ability to translate advanced research into reliable, production-ready AI solutions
• ▹Demonstrated experience making high-impact technical decisions in fast-moving and ambiguous environments
• ▹Deep understanding of AI evaluation methodologies, model robustness, safety, and system reliability
• ▹Strong ownership mindset with the ability to lead technical strategy and execution

Nice to have

• ▹Experience with Python
• ▹Experience with PyTorch and/or JAX
• ▹Experience with GPU-based model training and inference systems

Soft skills

About the company

Our client is a stealth AI startup backed by one of Southeast Asia's leading technology companies, currently building its global founding team. It is developing an AI-native communication platform that simplifies everyday tasks by integrating AI directly into conversations, so users no longer need to switch between multiple applications.