Our client is a Y Combinator-backed AI research company building simulation environments and synthetic-data pipelines for reinforcement learning and next-generation model training. The company works with leading AI labs, frontier startups, and Fortune 500 enterprises and has raised $5M.
This Research Product Manager is a research-first product role focused on the model itself, not a traditional application backlog. You will work with researchers at frontier AI labs to identify capability gaps, design evaluations and training-data programs, run experiments, and manage delivery from research scoping through weekly data releases.
What you'll do
• Co-design model capabilities by identifying gaps and running headroom analyses.
• Run experiments and benchmarks using simulation infrastructure and evaluation tooling.
• Translate ambiguous partner requests into research questions, project plans, and aggressive milestones.
• Design data-curation programs using domain experts and synthetic-data generation.
• Conduct literature reviews and implement state-of-the-art research in practical evaluation frameworks.
• Own one-to-three-month projects from scoping through weekly delivery, feedback, and iteration.
• Bridge research and operations across researchers, customers, and external contributors.
Requirements
• 0 to 5 years of experience in AI/ML research, technical product management, research engineering, or another deeply technical role.
• Fluency in LLM evaluations, benchmarks, coding agents, and modern model-development workflows.
• Strong Python skills and comfort with data, experiments, and technical tooling.
• Demonstrated ability to ship technical projects end to end.
• Research-minded judgment, curiosity, and comfort with open-ended questions.
• Excellent communication and project leadership across technical and non-technical collaborators.
• High ownership, urgency, and comfort working in an early-stage environment.
• Ability to work five days per week on-site in San Francisco.
Benefits
• $150,000 to $240,000 base salary.
• Sizable performance bonus tied to project and company milestones.
• Meaningful early-stage equity.
• Health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Direct access to frontier AI researchers and substantial ownership over model-development programs.
The company can consider OPT and existing H-1B transfers.
Skills Required
- 0 to 5 years of experience in AI/ML research, technical product management, research engineering, or another deeply technical role
- Fluency in LLM evaluations, benchmarks, coding agents, and modern model-development workflows
- Strong Python skills and comfort with data, experiments, and technical tooling
- Demonstrated ability to ship technical projects end to end
- Research-minded judgment, curiosity, and comfort with open-ended questions
- Excellent communication and project leadership across technical and non-technical collaborators
- High ownership, urgency, and comfort working in an early-stage environment
- Ability to work five days per week on-site in San Francisco
What We Do
Raydar is a talent acquisition and business consulting firm that connects world-class and emerging talent with growing organizations. It supports companies through team development, strategic hiring, and customized growth solutions, helping clients recruit roles such as engineers, product managers, executives, legal counsel, and quantitative traders. Raydar focuses on understanding each organization’s needs, culture, and long-term goals to build high-impact teams.
