Applied AI Data Scientist

AE Studio builds products, platforms, and internal ventures that increase agency for all conscious beings. We combine world-class software engineering, AI expertise, and product design to ship ambitious projects that matter. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Data Scientist at AE Studio, you’ll work on a mix of client projects and internal research initiatives. You’ll solve real-world problems, help build meaningful products, and contribute to groundbreaking AI alignment research. Your work will involve building data-driven solutions, leveraging machine learning models, and using your creativity to deliver results that matter. In addition to client projects, you’ll have the opportunity to propose and pursue high-impact research projects , especially those aligned with our mission of increasing agency. Promising projects could even become prioritized skunkworks initiatives. We want problem-solvers who are adaptable, collaborative, and excited to push boundaries. If this sounds like you, let’s talk. ABOUT YOU You thrive on solving challenging problems and bring a mix of technical expertise, creativity, and humor to your work. You enjoy working independently but also love collaborating with a team that shares your passion for making a difference. Required Skills and Experience Fluency in Python .. Experience with LLM lifecycle: prompt design/engineering, prompting techniques (RAG, few-shot, CoT, etc.), vector databases, multimodality, fine-tuning, and evaluation. Proven data science experience : You’ve been a key contributor to impactful projects and know how to deliver results with real-life outcomes. Statistical & causal ML fundamentals: expertise in experimental design, uncertainty quantification, and rigorous model evaluation across tabular, time-series, and foundation-model fine-tuning tasks. Deep learning experience : Expertise in building/training NLP or computer vision models with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX. Agile & AI-powered development: You run lean Kanban/Scrum cycles and leverage AI-powered tools like Cursor to prototype quickly and ship high-impact solutions. Growth mindset : You embrace challenges, value progress over perfection, and constantly seek to improve. Self-management : You can work independently, take ownership of projects, and deliver without constant oversight. Product and UX understanding : You care about delivering a seamless, user-friendly experience. Effective communication in English : Clear, concise, and maybe even witty communication is essential. Bonus Points for Self-managed projects : Ideally something that you helped develop from zero and shipped to real users. Startup experience : You thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy taking on new challenges. Client relationship management : Experience managing clients and delivering excellent results. Passion for AI alignment : You care deeply about humanity’s future and want to help navigate the challenges of advancing AI. WHAT WE OFFER Remote-first culture: Work from anywhere, or join us in one of our offices. Flexible schedules: We care about outcomes, not micromanagement. Competitive pay: Regular performance-based raises and a diversified employee equity program. Opportunities for growth: Work on cutting-edge R&D and propose projects that could become our next skunkworks focus. Supportive environment: A team that collaborates, mentors, and shares knowledge. Perks: Health insurance, free lunches (at the office), weekly knowledge-sharing talks, and an annual team retreat. Salary range is from $120K to $220K per year for people based in California. Not in the range? That's fine, you can still apply, and our team may fit you in a more senior position that we're not actively hiring right now, but we are growing fast and may have other openings soon. EQUITY Working at AE means receiving equity in our client projects and in Skunkworks ventures. The equity is priced at $0 when granted for tax reasons, but AE invests millions into these projects. Equity comes from reduced margins on client work and internal funding. You get a real stake in the things you help build. The longer you stay, the more value you create and the more equity you receive. If you leave on good terms, you can retain 20% of your equity by staying engaged. If you spin out a Skunkworks venture, you retain 100%.