Research Scientist - FMTA in London

DeepL is a global communications platform powered by Language AI. Since 2017, we have been on a mission to break down language barriers. Our human‑sounding translations and intelligent writing suggestions are designed with enterprise security in mind. Today, they enable over 100,000 businesses to transform communications, reach new markets, and improve productivity, and they empower millions of individuals worldwide to make sense of the world and express their ideas.
Research Scientist – FMTA
Meet the team behind this journey: Foundation Model Task Adaptation
We are the team behind DeepL’s post‑training stack for large language models. We focus on developing algorithms and systems that align pre‑trained models with tasks and performance goals through techniques like reinforcement learning. As a research‑driven team, we stay up to date with current literature to integrate cutting‑edge ideas into our core stack. As part of this team, you will shape the future of how our models learn beyond pre‑training: enabling new capabilities, better controllability, and safer, more effective user experiences.
Your Responsibilities
Design, implement, and deploy cutting‑edge research in reinforcement learning and post‑training at scale, driving innovations that make it into production.
You Will
Build and deploy state‑of‑the‑art reinforcement learning pipelines at scale.
Post‑train large (multi‑modal) models to align them with human intent and enable general capabilities such as reasoning, pushing the boundaries of model performance, safety, and efficiency.
Always keep the entire lifecycle of research and production in mind: from idea conception, theoretical modeling, prototyping, ablation studies, all the way to production deployment.
Build and foster external collaborations with academic and industrial partners.
Follow scientific and technical standards for experimentation, reproducibility, and model evaluation.
Collaborate deeply with Engineering, ML Platform, and HPC teams to deliver robust and reliable model updates to users.
Qualities We Look For
We are seeking researchers with a strong practical background, a creative mindset, and a passion for solving hard problems with real‑world impact.
Solid mathematical background and a preference for a master’s degree, diploma, PhD, or equivalent industry experience in mathematics, physics, computer science, or a related field.
Deep practical experience in Python and at least one modern machine‑learning framework such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX; experience working with large compute clusters and ML infrastructure is a plus.
A track record of leading self‑directed research projects that go well beyond academic exercises and deliver tangible results.
Expertise in deep reinforcement learning (RLHF/RLAIF/RLVR) is a plus.
Hands‑on experience scaling and deploying LLMs or other foundation models in real‑world systems is a plus.
What We Offer
Diverse and internationally distributed team: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities.
Open communication, regular feedback: we value clear, honest communication, smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback.
Hybrid work, flexible hours: hybrid schedule with team members in office twice a week and the flexibility to work from home.
Monthly full‑day hacking sessions: Hack Fridays allow you to dive into a project you\’re passionate about and collaborate with other teams.
30 days of annual leave (excluding public holidays) and access to mental health resources.
Competitive benefits tailored to each employee’s location.
Virtual Shares: an ownership mindset in every role; every employee receives Virtual Shares.
If this role and our mission resonate with you, but you don\’t check all the boxes, don\’t let that hold you back. Apply and discover your potential together!
We Are an Equal Opportunity Employer
You are welcome at DeepL for who you are. We appreciate authenticity here. Our product is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all succeed. Bring your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our diversity that we find the power to break down language barriers in the world.
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