At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive groundbreaking AI research and develop innovative solutions for consumer hardware.
- Company: Join a dynamic, elite team at EXO Research in London, focused on decentralising AI.
- Benefits: Collaborative culture, intense learning environment, and opportunities for mentorship.
- Other info: In-person role near Tower Bridge with a focus on continuous growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the AI field while working with top talent.
- Qualifications: PhD in AI/ML or 3+ years of research experience; strong ML fundamentals 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).
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 in London employer: Delphiventures
At EXO, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a vibrant and collaborative work culture in the heart of London. Our small, elite team thrives on innovation and mentorship, offering unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth while working on cutting-edge AI technology that empowers individuals and organisations. With a strong emphasis on learning and development, we invite passionate researchers to join us in shaping the future of AI, all within a supportive environment that values creativity and excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Researcher in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the AI and ML space. Attend meetups, conferences, or even local events near Tower Bridge. 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/ML. Share your work on platforms like GitHub and make sure to highlight any contributions to open-source projects. This will catch the eye of recruiters at EXO.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your ML fundamentals and be ready to discuss your past research experiences. Practice explaining complex concepts clearly, as communication is key in a collaborative environment like EXO.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our elite team and contributing to something great.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Researcher in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When you're 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.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate crisp memos and clear communication. Make sure your application is well-structured and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it’s necessary, and always aim for clarity in your writing.
Highlight Your Research Experience:Since we're looking for exceptional researchers, make sure to showcase your relevant experience. Talk about your past projects, especially those that involved innovative solutions or prototypes, and how they relate to the role.
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 you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive!
How to prepare for a job interview at Delphiventures
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your AI/ML fundamentals. Be ready to discuss your past research and how it relates to the role at EXO. They’re looking for someone who can dive deep into technical details, so don’t shy away from showcasing your expertise!
✨Show Your Builder Mindset
Prepare examples of projects where you’ve written production-quality code and iterated based on feedback. EXO values a builder mindset, so be ready to talk about how you measure success and improve your work over time.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since the culture is intense and collaborative, think of instances where you’ve worked closely with others. Highlight your mentorship experiences and how you’ve helped uplift junior researchers or team members in the past.
✨Be Ready to Learn
EXO appreciates candidates who can learn quickly and reason from first principles. Prepare to discuss how you approach learning new technologies or concepts, especially if you’re not already familiar with their tech stack. Show them you’re adaptable and eager to grow!
