Timaeus is hiring researchers & engineers

post by Jesse Hoogland (jhoogland), Stan van Wingerden (stan-van-wingerden) · 2025-01-17T19:13:14.739Z · LW · GW · 1 comments

Contents

  About Us
  Position Details
  Roles
    Research Lead (1 FTE)
    Research Scientist (2 FTE)
    Research Engineer (1 FTE)
  Current Research Areas
  Benefits and Salary
  Application Process
  Apply Now
  Diversity and Inclusion
None
1 comment

TLDR: We're hiring for research & engineering roles across different levels of seniority. Hires 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, such as interpretability (via "developmental interpretability"), out-of-distribution generalization (via "structural generalization"), and the study of inductive biases (via "geometry of program synthesis").

Position Details

• Positions: Research Lead, Research Scientist, Research Engineer.
• Location: Remote. Timaeus will likely be located in either Berkeley or London in the next 6 months, and we intend to sponsor visas for these roles in the future.
• Type: Full-time.
• Start Date: April 2025.
• Salary range: USD70,000 – USD140,000 annually, based on experience and location.
• Deadline: Apply here by 13 February at 11:59 PM GMT.

Roles

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

Research Lead (1 FTE)

Responsibilities:

• Drive major research initiatives in applying SLT to AI alignment.
• Design and lead novel research directions in line with our broader research agenda.
• Mentor and develop Timaeus’ other researchers.
• Collaborate with external research groups.
• Contribute to strategic planning and research prioritization.
• Oversee the preparation of research papers submitted to major conferences / journals.

Requirements:

• PhD (or equivalent research experience) in a relevant field (Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, ML).
• Track record of leading technical research projects.
• Strong publication record in ML, mathematics, or related fields.
• Deep understanding of machine learning and AI alignment.

Research Scientist (2 FTE)

Responsibilities:

• Run experiments in PyTorch or JAX on (language) models, from small toy systems of 100s of parameters up to billions of parameters.
• Meet weekly and plan tasks with the research team.
• Write up and visualize experimental results, and present findings to the team and external stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate and detailed research log of experiments and results.
• (Depending on seniority) Assist or lead the preparation of research papers, reports, and presentations.
• (Depending on seniority) Develop and lead new research projects applying SLT to alignment.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, ML).
• Strong mathematical background and research experience.
• Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear technical writing ability.

Research Engineer (1 FTE)

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 and 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 or London 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 remote team we hold in-person staff retreats twice a year, to work on our plans and build strong working relationships.
• Organizational agility: We strive to be a fast-moving research organization, combining deep scientific engagement with startup-like flexibility and speed. We prioritize productivity with minimal weekly meetings while encouraging collaborative co-working sessions.
• Dedicated time for innovation: We set aside time for all employees to explore new literature, experiment with innovative workflows, and try out cutting-edge tools, such as the latest AI technologies, to enhance research and productivity.

Application Process

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

1. Application: Submit the application form by 13 February at 11:59 PM GMT.
2. Assessment(s): Complete 1–2 paid, 4-hour assessments 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 Operations & Finances).
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 13 February 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 [LW(p) · GW(p)].

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.

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