Join Goodfire as a Forward Deployed Research Scientist to apply AI interpretability solutions directly with customers.
Posted by employer 1 month ago
First seen on Joblaze 1 month ago
Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago
Role intensity
70% hands-on coding
AI in the day-to-day
We are advancing the science of how AI systems actually work and applying interpretability to solve novel problems.
Requirements
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Master's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Forward Deployed Research Scientist at Goodfire engages directly with clients to apply the company's interpretability platform, tackling complex problems through innovative research and tool development. This role requires a strong background in machine learning and interpretability, with proficiency in Python and frameworks like PyTorch. Ideal candidates are experienced researchers who thrive in fast-paced environments and are driven to take ownership of their projects. Goodfire's mission-driven team emphasizes collaboration and continuous improvement in the evolving field of AI.
Joblaze insights
- Listed about a month ago — first seen on Joblaze September 9, 2026. Last confirmed on Goodfire's careers page October 31, 2026.
- Salary band is above the typical range for AI/ML roles (median ~$190,000).
- Starts above 74% of 206 comparable senior ai/ml roles in United States that list Python we track (median $182,000 across 71 companies). See Python salary trends
- Python appears in 53.2% of 555 comparable senior ai/ml roles in United States; PyTorch appears in 18.6% of 555 comparable senior ai/ml roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Forward Deployed Research Scientist role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in San Francisco, CA.
- What's the salary range?
- Goodfire lists $220,000–$315,000 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Forward Deployed Research Scientist role.
- Where is the role based?
- Goodfire is hiring for this position in San Francisco, CA.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: PyTorch, Python.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Goodfire targets senior candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Forward Deployed Research Scientist role at Goodfire.
From the original posting
About Goodfire
About the role
We’re looking for a Forward Deployed Research Scientist to join our team to work directly with customers to apply our interpretability platform to solve novel problems for our customers. You’ll work closely with a small, mission-driven team of scientists and engineers to conduct novel research, build practical tools, and push the field forward.
Where you might contribute:
- Forward deployed research – lead research with our partners to interpret advanced models.
- Project delivery and implementation – own research delivery on high-stakes projects with customers and do whatever it takes to make delivery successful, including: problem and hypothesis definition, data sourcing, tool building, iteration, and implementation. Translate research into tools for real-world applications.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work directly with customers to conduct original research in interpretability.
- Prototype techniques to visualize and manipulate internal model structures.
- Collaborate with engineering to turn research into production-ready tools.
- Drive partnership success by collaborating closely with our customers and partners.
- Help define and evolve our research direction.
What you’ll bring
Required experience
- MS/PhD or equivalent experience in CS, with a strong ML background and experience in interpretability.
- Deep familiarity with large models and a passion for understanding how they work.
- Fluency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch.
- Strong writing and communication skills for explaining complex ideas.
- Drive to move quickly and take ownership.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience leading research in a forward deployed environment and in service of a customer’s requirements.
- Experience in startup or fast-paced lab environments.
The expected salary range for this position is $220,000 - $315,000 USD
Standard company text repeated across Goodfire's postings is omitted here.