Research Engineer @ Timaeus

By Sara Recktenwald, Jesse Hoogland, Stan van Wingerden @ 2025-08-13T07:38 (+7)

TLDR: We’re hiring for a research engineer role. The successful hire will work on applications of singular learning theory to alignment, including developmental interpretability.

About Us

Timaeus’ mission is to empower humanity by making breakthrough scientific progress on alignment. Our research focuses on applications of singular learning theory to foundational problems within alignment.

Position Details

• Position: Research Engineer.
• Location: Remote. Timaeus will encourage colocating to our hubs in Berkeley, Melbourne, or London in the next 6 months, and we intend to sponsor visas for these roles in the future.
• Type: Full-time.
• Start Date: Oct/Nov 2025.
• Salary range: USD 70,000 – USD 140,000 annually, based on experience and location.
• Reports to: Stan van Wingerden, Director of Engineering
• Deadline: Apply here by 14 September at 11:59 PM GMT.

Role

We expect some familiarity with Timaeus’ research and research agenda, but in-depth familiarity with singular learning theory (SLT) is not required.

Research Engineer

Responsibilities:

• Build, maintain, and expand research infrastructure.
• Scale experiments to models up to O(100B) parameters.
• Meet weekly and plan tasks with the engineering team.
• Collaborate closely with researchers to translate theoretical insights into empirical research tools.
• (Depending on seniority) Assist or lead the development and maintenance of codebases and repositories.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, ML).
• Strong software engineering background.
• Experience with ML frameworks (bonus: distributed computing).
• Track record of building research infrastructure.
• Ability to balance engineering rigor with the needs of a fast-moving research organization.

Current Research Areas

• Devinterp of language models: Scaling up techniques like local learning coefficient (LLC) estimation to larger models and validating next-generation SLT-derived techniques for analyzing neural network structure.
• Near-term applications of SLT: Investigating refined LLCs for immediate safety-relevant applications, such as measuring the reversibility of safety fine-tuning, measuring susceptibility to jailbreaking, detecting backdoors, and quantifying weight-exfiltration risk.
• Theoretical foundations: Advancing our understanding of singular learning theory and its applications to AI alignment.

Benefits and Salary

Your starting salary range is USD70,000 – USD140,000, depending on prior experience and location. There may be flexibility in salary for exceptional candidates with significant experience.

Our benefits include:

• Generous holiday allowance: Enjoy 5 weeks of vacation per year, in addition to public holidays.
• Health and well-being support: We provide a comprehensive healthcare plan if you’re based in the US, or a cash equivalent to support your health needs if located elsewhere. We also offer unlimited sick leave to prioritize your well-being.
• Visa sponsorship: Timaeus plans to establish offices in Berkeley, London, and Melbourne within six months and will sponsor visas for these roles.
• Paid professional development opportunities: We offer attendance in relevant conferences and work trips, fully covered by Timaeus, to stay at the forefront of research and innovation in AI alignment.
• Team retreats: As a distributed team we hold in-person staff retreats twice a year, to work on our plans and build strong working relationships.
• Organizational agility: We combine deep scientific rigor with startup-like flexibility. Minimal weekly meetings (2 - 3 hours total for most employees) while encouraging collaborative co-working sessions and focused work time
• Dedicated time for innovation: Opportunity to test new tools and workflows
• Work-life balance: We’re a remote-first team that values both flexibility and collaboration. We have flexible working hours across time zones with regular opportunities for in-person connection

Application Process

Here’s a summary of the application process for a successful candidate:

1. Application: Submit the application form by 14 September at 11:59 PM GMT.
2. Assessment(s): Complete a paid, 4-hour assessment designed to simulate the work you’d do in the role.
3. Screening call: Attend a 30-minute call with Jesse Hoogland (Executive Director) and Stan van Wingerden (Director of Engineering).
4. Technical interview: Participate in a 45-minute remote interview with team members to evaluate your technical skills and expertise relevant to the role.
5. Additional interview: Potentially join one more interview with the team.
6. References: Share references who can comment on your aptitudes. Good references can notably strengthen your application.

We’re reviewing candidates on a rolling basis and may make an offer before the end of the application deadline.

Apply Now

Interested candidates should submit their applications by 14 September at 11:59 PM GMT using this application form.

Join us in shaping the future of AI alignment research. Apply now to be part of the Timaeus team!

Please submit any questions to careers@timaeus.co. For impressions from previous hiring rounds, see this comment.

Diversity and Inclusion

We’re aware that factors like gender, race, and socioeconomic background can affect people’s willingness to apply for roles for which they meet some but not all the suggested attributes. We’d especially like to encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to express interest.

There’s no such thing as a “perfect” candidate. If you’re on the fence about applying because you’re unsure whether you’re qualified, we’d encourage you to apply.

If you require any adjustments to the application process, such as accessibility accommodations, additional preparation time, or other, please contact careers@timaeus.co. We’re happy to support your needs and adjust the application process.