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- Tasks: Lead cutting-edge AI safety research and mentor a dynamic team of researchers.
- Company: Join Faculty, a leader in responsible AI innovation since 2014.
- Benefits: Enjoy unlimited annual leave, private healthcare, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the critical field of AI safety and shape the future.
- Qualifications: Proven track record in AI research and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
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. 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 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 OpenAI'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
The Head of Research of Development for AI Safety will head up Faculty's small, high-agency research team, shaping the future of safe AI systems. You will lead the scientific research agenda for AI safety, focusing on large language models and other critical systems. This role involves leading researchers, driving external publications, and ensuring alignment with Faculty’s commercial ambition to build trustworthy AI, giving you the opportunity to make a high-impact contribution in a rapidly evolving, critical field.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading the AI safety team’s ambitious research agenda, setting priorities aligned with long-term company goals.
- Conducting and overseeing cutting-edge AI safety research, specifically for large language models and safety-critical AI systems.
- Publishing high-impact research findings in leading academic conferences and journals.
- Shaping the research agenda by identifying impactful opportunities and balancing scientific and practical priorities.
- Building, managing, and mentoring a growing team of researchers, fostering an innovative and collaborative culture.
- Collaborating on delivery of evaluations and red-teaming projects in high-risk domains like CBRN and cybersecurity.
- Positioning Faculty as a thought leader in AI safety through research and strategic stakeholder engagement.
Who We’re Looking For
- You have a proven track record of high-impact AI research, demonstrated through top-tier academic publications or equivalent experience.
- You possess deep domain knowledge in language models and the evolving field of AI safety.
- You exhibit strong research judgment and extensive experience in AI safety, including generating and executing novel research directions.
- You have the ability to conduct and oversee complex technical research projects, with advanced programming skills (Python, standard data science stack) to review team work.
- You are a passionate leader who adopts a caring attitude towards the personal and professional development of technical teams.
- You bring excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of sharing complex ideas with diverse audiences.
- You have a deep understanding of the AI safety research landscape and the ability to build connections to secure resources for impactful work.
Our Interview Process
- Talent Team Screen (30 mins)
- Experience & Theory interview (45 mins)
- Research presentation and coding interview (75 mins)
- Leadership and Principles interview (60 mins)
- Final stage with our CEO (45 mins)
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 (2 days in our Old Street office, London)
If you don’t feel you meet all the requirements, but are excited by the role and know you bring some key strengths, please do apply or reach out to our Talent Acquisition team for a confidential chat - talent@faculty.ai. Please know we are open to conversations about part-time roles or condensed hours.
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Faculty by 2x.
Principal Research Scientist - AI Safety employer: Faculty
Contact Detail:
Faculty Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Research Scientist - AI Safety
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the AI safety field on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio of your research and projects related to AI safety. When you get the chance, share your insights during interviews to demonstrate your passion and knowledge.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Mock interviews with friends or mentors can help you nail down your responses. Focus on articulating your vision for AI safety and how you can contribute to Faculty's mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Faculty.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Research Scientist - AI Safety
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in AI safety and research. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Faculty, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant skills!
Showcase Your Research Impact: When detailing your past work, focus on the impact of your research. We’re looking for high-impact contributions, so include any publications or projects that demonstrate your expertise in AI safety and language models.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain complex ideas, as we value excellent communication skills. Remember, we want to understand your thoughts without getting lost in jargon!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Faculty!
How to prepare for a job interview at Faculty
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and research in AI safety, especially around large language models. Familiarise yourself with Faculty's work and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Research Scientist, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed and mentored researchers in the past. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and innovation within a team.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions during the coding interview. Practice coding problems relevant to AI safety and ensure you're comfortable with Python and the data science stack. Being able to demonstrate your technical prowess will set you apart.
✨Communicate Clearly
You’ll need to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences. Practice explaining your research in simple terms and be ready to discuss how you can make AI safety accessible to non-experts. Strong communication skills are key!
