Senior Research Scientist - AI Safety

Senior Research Scientist - AI Safety

Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative AI safety research and drive impactful projects in high-risk domains.
  • Company: Join Faculty, a pioneering company transforming AI with a focus on responsible technology.
  • Benefits: Enjoy unlimited annual leave, private healthcare, and flexible working options.
  • Other info: Diverse team culture that values intellectual curiosity and positive impact.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of safe AI and make a real-world impact with your research.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in AI research, strong Python skills, and knowledge of machine learning frameworks.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Why Faculty?

We established Faculty in 2014 because we thought that AI would be the most important technology of our time.

Since then, we’ve worked with over 350 global customers to transform their performance through human-centric AI.

You can read about our real-world impact here.

We don’t chase hype cycles.

We innovate, build and deploy responsible AI which moves the needle - and we know a thing or two about doing it well.

We bring an unparalleled depth of technical, product and delivery expertise to our clients who span government, finance, retail, energy, life sciences and defence.

Our business, and reputation, is growing fast and we’re always on the lookout for individuals who share our intellectual curiosity and desire to build a positive legacy through technology.

AI is an epoch-defining technology, join a company where you’ll be empowered to envision its most powerful applications, and to make them happen.

About the Team

Faculty’s Research team conducts critical red teaming and builds evaluations for misuse capabilities in sensitive areas, such as CBRN, cybersecurity and international security, for several leading frontier model developers and national safety institutes; notably, our work has been featured in Open AI's system card for o1.

Our commitment also extends to conducting fundamental technical research on mitigation strategies, with our findings published in peer-reviewed conferences and delivered to national security institutes.

Complementing this, we design evaluations for model developers across broader safety-relevant fields, including the societal impacts of increasingly capable frontier models, showcasing our expertise across the safety landscape.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Research Scientist to join our high-impact R&D.

You will lead novel research that advances scientific understanding and fuels our ambition to build safe AI systems.

This is a crucial opportunity to join a small, high-agency team conducting vital red teaming and evaluations for frontier models in sensitive areas like cybersecurity and national security.

You'll shape the future of safe AI deployment in the real world.

What you'll be doing

  • Owning and driving forward high-impact AI research themes in AI safety.
  • Contributing to the wider vision and development of Faculty’s AI safety research agenda.
  • Supporting Faculty’s positioning as a leader in AI safety through thought leadership and stakeholder engagement.
  • Shaping our research agenda by identifying impactful opportunities and balancing scientific and practical priorities.
  • Leading technical research within the AI Safety space, from concept to publication.
  • Supporting the delivery of evaluations and red-teaming projects in high-risk domains, such as CBRN and cybersecurity, with government and commercial partners.

Who we're looking for

  • You have a track record of working with high-impact AI research, evidenced by top-tier academic publications or equivalent experience.
  • You bring proven experience or a clear passion for Applied AI safety, perhaps from labs, academia, or evaluation and red-teaming roles.
  • You possess deep domain knowledge in language models and generative AI model architectures, including fine-tuning techniques beyond API-level implementation.
  • You have practical machine learning experience, with a focus on areas such as robustness, explainability, or uncertainty estimation.
  • You are proficient with deep learning frameworks (Py Torch, Tensor Flow, or similar) and familiar with the Hugging Face ecosystem or equivalent ML tooling.
  • You have demonstrable Python engineering experience to build and support robust research projects.
  • You have the ability to conduct and oversee complex technical research projects and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Our Recruitment Ethos

We aim to grow the best team - not the most similar one.

We know that diversity of individuals fosters diversity of thought, and that strengthens our principle of seeking truth.

And we know from experience that diverse teams deliver better work, relevant to the world in which we live.

We’re united by a deep intellectual curiosity and desire to use our abilities for measurable positive impact.

We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, religions and sexual orientations.

Some of our standout benefits

  • Unlimited Annual Leave Policy
  • Private healthcare and dental
  • Enhanced parental leave
  • Family-Friendly Flexibility & Flexible working
  • Sanctus Coaching
  • Hybrid Working

If you don’t feel you meet all the requirements, but are excited by the role and know you bring some key strengths, please don't hesitate in applying as you might be right for this role, or other roles.

We are open to conversations about part-time hours.

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Senior Research Scientist - AI Safety employer: Faculty AI

At Faculty, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. With access to powerful computational resources and opportunities for professional growth through mentorship and teaching, our team thrives in a supportive environment that values intellectual curiosity. Located in the vibrant Old Street area, you will be part of a diverse team dedicated to transforming organisational performance through impactful AI solutions.

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Contact Details:

Faculty AI Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Research Scientist - AI Safety

Get Involved in Research Communities

Dive headfirst into the scientific research world by joining relevant communities and forums. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and even attend conferences or seminars in your field. This not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to potential job opportunities—don't forget to connect with like-minded folks!

Show Off Your Research Projects

Have you worked on any cool research projects? Make it easy for potential employers to see your work by creating a portfolio or a personal website. This way, when you apply for roles like the one at Faculty AI, you can point them to your projects and publications, showcasing your expertise directly.

Utilise Professional Networks

Networking is key in scientific research. Join professional bodies or organisations related to your field. They often have job boards and resources tailored for job seekers. Make connections with professionals who may know about openings or can give you tips on landing a full-time position.

Keep Your Eyes on Openings & Apply Directly

Don’t just rely on job boards! Keep an eye on the careers section of the websites of companies like Faculty AI. Apply directly through their website because sometimes they post jobs there before anywhere else. Plus, it shows your proactive approach!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Research Scientist - AI Safety

AI Safety
Red Teaming
Technical Research
Applied AI
Language Models
Generative AI Model Architectures
Fine-Tuning Techniques

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Research Experience:When applying for a full-time role in scientific research, make sure to emphasise your research experience prominently in your CV. Share specific projects you’ve worked on, the methodologies you used, and any significant findings. If you’ve published papers or presented at conferences, definitely include that too – it shows you’re on it in the academic world!

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Research Area:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the specific area of research at Faculty AI. Mention relevant experiences that align with the organisation’s goals or projects. This shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position – plus, it helps us see how you’d fit into the team dynamics.

Showcase Your Data Analysis Skills:In scientific research, data analysis skills are a big deal! Make sure to detail any relevant analytical tools or software you’re familiar with, like R, Python, or statistical packages. Employers are keen to know you can handle the data-heavy elements of the role, so add specific examples where you’ve used these skills effectively.

Discuss Your Future Research Goals:In your motivation section, it’s a great idea to talk about your future research goals and how they align with the work being done at Faculty AI. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but rather a chance to contribute meaningfully to the field. We love to see applicants who are forward-thinking and enthusiastic about their research journey!

How to prepare for a job interview at Faculty AI

Showcase Your Research Skills

In scientific research, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to design and conduct experiments. Come armed with examples of past projects where you've developed hypotheses, collected data, and analysed results. Be ready to discuss any specific methodologies or tools you’ve used, like PCR techniques or statistical software.

Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect some technical questions specific to your field. Make sure you're up to speed with recent advancements in scientific research related to the role at Faculty AI. Brush up on concepts relevant to their projects and be prepared to discuss how you would approach a specific research problem or challenge they might face.

Know Your Publications

If you've authored or co-authored any papers, be prepared to discuss them! Highlighting your contributions to published research can really set you apart. It shows not only your expertise but also your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, which is key in scientific research roles.

Exhibit Your Team Spirit

In full-time roles, collaboration is often at the heart of scientific research. Prepare examples that show how you've successfully worked in teams, dealt with conflicts, or contributed to group projects. We want to know how you can work effectively with the team at Faculty AI to drive research projects forward.