At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive groundbreaking AI research and develop prototypes for consumer hardware.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at EXO Research, revolutionising AI in London.
- Benefits: Collaborative culture, mentorship opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of AI.
- Other info: Intense learning environment with exceptional talent and growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing AI performance and empowering users with control.
- Qualifications: PhD in AI/ML or 3+ years of relevant research experience required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Why we're building EXO AI is centralised. A handful of companies control the models, the compute, and — by extension — the world’s data. Unlike past technologies, AI is trained on the sum of human knowledge and decisions. Its centralisation is more consequential than anything we’ve seen before — reducing sovereignty, eroding privacy, and limiting accessibility. At EXO, we’re building the alternative. We make it possible to run AI locally — from a single MacBook to clusters of thousands — giving people and organisations back sovereignty, privacy, and control.
Who we are: SF culture, but in London (we are all in-person in our office near Tower Bridge): we all want to build something great. Open‑source repo among the fastest‑growing in AI, with 30K+ stars and 1M+ downloads. Enterprise demand is so strong that we’re turning customers away. Small, elite team in London with exceptional talent density (Previously Oxford/Cambridge, IMO, Jane Street). Now we’re hiring exceptional researchers to build with us.
What we’re building: We are building an AI stack from the ground up, optimised for consumer hardware — from the models to the distributed algorithms, scheduling, and orchestration. On consumer hardware, we face higher memory‑to‑FLOPS ratios, unreliable connections as devices go offline and move networks, and higher network bandwidth‑to‑FLOPS ratios than datacentre GPUs.
Responsibilities: As a Founding Researcher, you will drive research that unlocks performance on Apple Silicon: bs=1 attention paths and kernels, MoE routing for unified memory, quantization strategies, topology‑aware scheduling, and KV transport — turning promising ideas into prototypes that deliver measurable product wins.
Who we’re looking for: PhD in AI/ML or 3+ years as a researcher at a top lab/company. Strong ML fundamentals and systems pragmatism; comfortable with kernels, profiling, and memory models. Builder mindset: write production‑quality code; measure; iterate. Mentorship: uplift juniors; bring structure and clarity to research. Writing and clarity: produce crisp memos and reproducible experiments.
How we work: We’re in‑person in London. The culture is intense, collaborative and there is constant learning.
Tech stack: Python — core orchestration + ML, Rust — networking, exposed to Python via FFI, C++ — Apple MLX core. You don’t need to know all of these upfront. The ability to learn quickly and reason from first principles matters more.
Founding Researcher employer: Delphiventures
At EXO Research, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and intense work culture in the heart of London. Our small, elite team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI research while providing ample opportunities for mentorship and professional growth. With a focus on innovation and a commitment to open-source principles, we empower our employees to take ownership of their projects and contribute to meaningful advancements in technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Researcher
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the AI/ML space. Attend meetups, conferences, or even local events. You never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio of your projects, especially those related to AI and ML. Share your work on platforms like GitHub and make sure it’s easy for potential employers to see what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past research experiences in detail. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for exceptional talent, and applying directly gives you a better chance to stand out. Let’s build something great together!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Researcher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and machine learning shine through. We want to see that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely excited about the work we’re doing at EXO. Share any personal projects or experiences that highlight your passion!
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity in communication, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless necessary. Remember, crisp memos are part of the role, so show us you can write clearly right from the start!
Highlight Your Research Experience:As a Founding Researcher, your background is crucial. Make sure to detail your research experience, especially any work related to AI/ML. Include specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your ability to turn ideas into prototypes and deliver results.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at EXO!
How to prepare for a job interview at Delphiventures
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your AI/ML fundamentals. Given the role's focus on performance optimisation for Apple Silicon, be ready to discuss specific techniques like attention paths and quantisation strategies. Show them you’re not just familiar with the theory but can also apply it practically.
✨Show Your Builder Mindset
Prepare to talk about your past projects where you’ve written production-quality code. Highlight how you measured success and iterated on your work. They want to see that you can turn ideas into prototypes that deliver real results, so have some examples ready!
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Mentorship
Since the culture is intense and collaborative, be prepared to discuss how you've uplifted juniors in your previous roles. Share experiences where you brought structure to research or helped others grow. This will show you fit well within their team-oriented environment.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex concepts in a simple way. You’ll need to produce crisp memos and reproducible experiments, so demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively during the interview. Use clear examples to illustrate your points and keep it concise!
