Research Scientist

idler· Engineering
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📍 San FranciscoFullTime

About this role

About idler

idler is a frontier data research lab. We build the evals and environments that the world's leading frontier labs use to measure and train their models.

We closed on a multimillion-dollar contract with a top lab and raised a $9m seed round led by Paradigm. We are now facing more lab demand for our data than we can currently serve.

Teaching AI superhuman capabilities is a responsibility we take very seriously. Our training data comes from work that is rigorous, ethically produced, and grounded in real expertise.

About the role

As a Research Scientist at idler, you'll own measuring and improving how models learn from our tasks. You'll draw on your own experience and collaborate with frontier researchers to validate our data quality, identify where improvements are needed, and create new datasets. To succeed, you'll need to have extensive experience doing this work in production at a frontier lab.

Examples of what you’ll do

  • Work with our customers — researchers at frontier labs — to design novel post-training recipes and data quality measurement techniques

  • Design and run our in-house post-training stack to measure model lift on our tasks

  • Develop new data products based on datasets and experts available to us

  • Work with procurement to ensure external data we acquire is suitable for refinement

  • Create scaleable systems for ingesting & evaluating data we are considering buying

What we’re looking for

  • 1+ years of experience doing RL in production at a frontier lab

  • Track record of post-training an LLM end to end

  • Desire to drive the research roadmap and implementation on a fast-moving team

  • Deep curiosity about how machines learn from data and how to extract the maximum learning signal from our tasks

Tech stack

Typescript, React, NodeJS, Postgres, Redis, Vercel, Cursor

Details

  • In-person in San Francisco

  • Competitive salary + meaningful equity

  • Free meals in office

  • Healthcare, 401(k), 15 days of PTO per year

  • Relocation assistance

  • Small, ambitious team

This is an in-person role in San Francisco. We're a tight-knit founding team and we play to win. Join us if you like to win too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Research Scientist position at idler?
The salary for this Research Scientist role at idler is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Research Scientist position at idler located?
This Research Scientist role at idler is based in San Francisco. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Research Scientist role at idler full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Research Scientist role in the Engineering department at idler.
Which team or department does the Research Scientist at idler belong to?
This Research Scientist position is part of the Engineering department at idler. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Research Scientist position at idler?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to idler's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Research Scientist job at idler posted?
This Research Scientist position at idler was posted on Aug 26, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Research Scientist
idler
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You'll be redirected to idler's official application page on Ashby ATS.