Research Scientist II

Who We Are Pindrop is the Real Human + Right Human® Identity Trust Platform for the AI era. As AI-driven fraud and deepfakes erode trust in digital communication, Pindrop delivers continuous identity verification and deepfake detection across voice, video, and digital interactions in real time. Enterprises rely on Pindrop to secure billions of high-risk customer interactions each year, including top U.S. banks, as well as leading insurers and healthcare providers. Powered by models trained on more than 1.5 billion real-world interactions annually and protected by 300+ patents, Pindrop restores trust while reducing fraud, lowering operational costs, and improving customer experience. Recognized by TIME as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Software Companies of 2026 and by Inc. for Best in Business for Innovation, Pindrop is backed by leading investors including Andreessen Horowitz, IVP, and CapitalG. What you’ll do As a Research Scientist II on the Video team, you will independently drive core research initiatives, deliver reproducible experimental results, and help translate machine learning models into real-world product solutions. In this role, you will: Conduct research to develop new functionalities and improve existing technologies for real-time video processing and meeting analytics. Design, implement, and evaluate deep learning algorithms related to video processing, face recognition, and video deepfake detection. Design, develop, and maintain internal research packages to train and test ML models, ensuring absolute reproducibility and computational efficiency. Partner closely with research engineers and engineering teams to help deploy research models and tools into production environments. Participate in cross-functional team meetings, contribute to regular research and code reviews, and publish patents and peer-reviewed papers in top computer vision, audio, and speech conferences. Who you are You remain focused, persistent, and scientifically rigorous through multiple experimental iterations, navigating ambiguity in research data, quality, or shifting methodologies while continuing to make steady progress. You work effectively across functional boundaries with research scientists, research engineers, and product partners, communicating research assumptions, findings, and implications with clarity. You take individual ownership of assigned research projects and workstreams, making sound technical decisions using available data, theory, and rigorous experimental evidence. You follow through on your commitments, communicate research progress transparently, and maintain the highest standard of technical integrity, documentation, and model reproducibility. You use machine learning frameworks effectively to design, train, and evaluate models, carefully validating outputs and applying sound judgment to balance experimentation speed with robustness, compliance, and model quality. Your skill-set Must-Haves: PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence) or equivalent industry research experience. 3+ years of professional experience in Deep Learning, specifically applied to computer vision, face recognition, video deepfake detection, or general machine learning. Strong programming proficiency in Python with a proven ability to design, develop, and maintain research packages to train and test ML models. Hands-on mastery of modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Keras. A proven track record of successful, timely project delivery and the ability to contribute to patents and peer-reviewed publications. Nice-to-Haves: Functional programming experience in C/C++ or working knowledge of deployment environments using Go, TF-Lite, and TF-Micro. Practical experience with real-time video processing pipelines and video data acquisition/preparation tasks. Foundational domain knowledge of biometrics, identity authentication, fraud patterns, or consumer security concepts. What’s in it for you This is an outstanding, high-impact opportunity to join Pindrop's core Research team and work on revolutionary research ideas designed to combat sophisticated deepfake threats. In an era where synthetic media and identity manipulation are rapidly accelerating, you will work alongside some of the best and brightest technical minds in AI, security, and computer vision. Your day-to-day contributions will directly enhance real-time communication safety and defend global enterprise systems from fraud and deception. We are intense about execution excellence, but we are also a highly collaborative team that enjoys the journey—offering a sustainable engineering culture backed by unlimited rest and continuous professional growth.. What we offer As a part of Pindrop, you’ll have a direct impact on our growing list of products and the future of security in the voice-driven economy. We hire great people and take care of them. Here’s a snapshot of the benefits we offer: Competitive compensation package, including RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) for all employees, so everyone shares in our long-term success. Remote-first environment - giving you flexibility and autonomy in how you structure your day. While we work flexibly, we prioritize meaningful in-person moments through regular team on-sites, company-wide events, and intentional gatherings that foster connection, collaboration, and shared success. Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) Generous health and welfare plans to choose from - including one employer-paid “employee-only” plan! Best-in-class Health Savings Account (HSA) employer contribution Low-cost vision and dental plans for you and your family, providing comprehensive coverage and peace of mind. Paid Parental Leave - Including birth, adoptive & foster parents One year of diaper delivery for your newest addition to the family! It’s our way of welcoming new Pindroplets to the family! Recurring monthly phone and internet allowance to help cover essential connectivity costs and support flexible work. Enhanced fertility and GLP-1 benefits to support family-building journeys and personalized health needs. Annual Learning & Development stipend to support your professional growth, skill-building, certifications, and continued education. This position will be posted for 90 days after 6/1/26. #LI-Remote Please note that the base pay range is a general guideline only. Pindrop considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills, as well as market and business considerations, when extending an offer. US Base Pay Range $160,000 — $185,000 USD Not sure if this is you? We want a diverse, global team, with a broad range of experience and perspectives. If this job sounds great, but you’re not sure if you qualify, apply anyway! We carefully consider every application and will either move forward with you, find another team that might be a better fit, keep in touch for future opportunities, or thank you for your time. AI - A Transformative Force At Pindrop, we view artificial intelligence as a transformative force that, when harnessed responsibly, can unlock unprecedented value for our customers, partners and society and enable and empower us to continue to deliver cutting-edge technology to combat fraud and unblur the lines between what it means to be human versus machine. Pindrop may use AI tools to help prioritize job applications for human review. The AI tool may analyze your work experience and skills to assess fit for the role, but does not consider your name or contact details. Applications with the strongest match to job requirements are prioritized for human review; not all applications may be individually reviewed. Pindrop is an Equal Opportunity Employer Here at Pindrop, it is our mission to create and maintain a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, marital and/or veteran status.