AI Research Engineer

Key Skills

Docker, Google Bigtable, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), JavaScript, Kubernetes-K8s, Postgres, Python Programming, SciPy, Terraform

Job Description

About Phaidra

Phaidra is building the future of industrial automation.

The world today is filled with static, monolithic infrastructure. Factories, power plants, buildings, etc. operate the same they've operated for decades — because the controls programming is hard-coded. Thousands of lines of rules and heuristics that define how the machines interact with each other. The result of all this hard-coding is that facilities are frozen in time, unable to adapt to their environment while their performance slowly degrades.

Phaidra creates AI-powered control systems for the industrial sector, enabling industrial facilities to automatically learn and improve over time. Specifically:

• We use reinforcement learning algorithms to provide this intelligence, converting raw sensor data into high-value actions and decisions.
• We focus on industrial applications, which tend to be well-sensorized with measurable KPIs — perfect for reinforcement learning.
• We enable domain experts (our users) to configure the AI control systems (i.e. agents) without writing code. They define what they want their AI agents to do, and we do it for them.

Our team has a track record of applying AI to some of the toughest problems. From achieving superhuman performance with DeepMind's AlphaGo, to reducing the energy required to cool Google's Data Centers by 40%, we deeply understand AI and how to apply it in production for massive impact.

Phaidra is based in the USA but 100% remote; we do not have a physical office. We hire employees internationally with the help of our partner, OysterHR. Our team is currently located throughout the USA, Canada, UK, Norway, Italy, Portugal, and India.

**Please only apply to one opening. If you are a better fit for another opening, our team will move your application. Candidates who apply to multiple openings will not be considered.**

Who You Are

Phaidra is looking for a driven Applied Research Engineer to be a part of our research team. You are bold and creative, and have deep empathy for customers who may not be tech-savvy. You will work directly with the research team and the customers to design and implement Deep RL techniques in production. You will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact with your work and guide the product and team as we grow.

For this position, we are seeking a team member located within one of the following areas: Canada

Responsibilities

The ideal candidate has experience wearing multiple hats. Your responsibilities will include flavors of Machine Learning and Software Engineering. You will help design and implement:

• Prediction and Decision algorithms to control complex non-linear and dynamic systems. This includes:
• Working with AI researchers and software engineers to productionize proven Deep Learning and Deep Reinforcement Learning techniques.
• Working with AI researchers on applied real-world problems to prove algorithmic feasibility and push the algorithmic capabilities.
• Being power users of the AI development platform that Phaidra is building to serve AI solutions to our customers.

Key Qualifications

• 1+ years of prior applied/core research experience.
• Bachelors or Masters in Engineering or Computer Science.
• Strong expertise in Deep Reinforcement Learning.
• Experience in actively researching/applying in the fields of (ModelBased, Batch, Safe) RL methods
• Expertise in Python with considerable experience in using open source ML libraries Keras/TensorFlow, PyTorch, scipy, scikit-learn, numpy, pandas, ray
• Deep understanding of concepts within Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Calculus.
• Share our company values: curiosity, ownership, transparency & directness, outcome-based performance, and customer empathy.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Understanding of Industrial Manufacturing.
• Understanding of Control Theory.

Our Stack

• Python
• PyTorch, scipy, scikit-learn, numpy, pandas
• Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ray
• GCP

30/60/90 days

In your first 30 days...

• You will be immersed in an onboarding program that introduces you to Phaidra and our product.
• You will spend time in the research team and get introduced to the different tracks of research that we perform.
• You will learn how other teams operate, interact, and approach problems.
• You will read various parts of our handbook and familiarize yourself with the documentation culture at Phaidra.
• You will set up your development environment and get introduced to various parts of our code base.

By your first 60 days...

• You will have a solid understanding of what Phaidra does and how we do it.
• You will have met with team members across Phaidra and started building relationships that will help you be successful at your job.
• You will have a good understanding of our research tracks, which allowed you to form a plan for your first project, or maybe, you have already started one.

By your first 90 days...

• You will have been fully integrated in the team and with team members across the company.
• You will have started to contribute to knowledge sharing throughout Phaidra.
• Your project is in full swing and you might have some early results already.

Salary Range

Canada: CA$100,000 - $130,000

This position includes equity.

Benefits & Perks

• Fast-paced and team-oriented environment where you will be instrumental in the direction of the company.
• Phaidra is a 100% remote company with a digital nomad policy.
• Competitive compensation & equity with an early exercise option.
• Outsized responsibilities & professional development.
• Training is foundational; functional, customer immersion, and development training.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (exact benefits vary by region).
• Unlimited paid time off, with a minimum of 20 days off per year requirement.
• Paid parental leave (exact benefits vary by region).
• Home office setup stipend and company MacBook.
• Monthly internet reimbursement.