AI Researcher - Post-Training

AI Researcher - Post-Training

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
SonarSource

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Innovate and develop next-gen solutions for enterprise-grade coding agents.
  • Company: Join Sonar, a leader in AI code verification and governance.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation support, and a collaborative office culture.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the AI software revolution with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: Advanced degree in Computer Science or related field; 4+ years in machine learning.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

Who is Sonar?

Sonar is driving the future of agent-centric software development.

As the leader in AI code verification and governance, we solve a critical problem: ensuring that software generated by AI-assisted developers or autonomous agents is reliable, secure, and maintainable.

Integrating seamlessly with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Git Hub Copilot, Gemini, and Devin, we help over 75% of the Fortune 100 build trusted, reliable, compliant software.

Customers who use Sonar are 44% less likely to report an outage due to AI-generated code.

We believe code verification is the critical missing link in the Agent-Centric Development Cycle (AC/DC).

Industry giants like Nvidia, Service Now, Booking. com, Goldman Sachs, Astra Zeneca, and Ford Motor Company count on us to provide independent, explainable, consistent review and governance of their AI-generated code via products like:

  • Sonar

Qube: The world’s leading AI code review and verification platform.

  • Sonar

Qube Foundation Agent: Currently topping the leaderboards for agentic software repair.

  • Sonar Sweep & Sonar Context Augmentation: Providing the enterprise-grade context and constraints agents need to be truly effective.

Our team operates across global hubs in Austin, Bochum, Dubai, Geneva, London, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington D. C. We move with a mindset we call CODE:

  • Committed to our customers and community.
  • Obsessed with quality.
  • Deliberate in our decisions.
  • Effective as one team.

With over $400M in revenue and profitable, fast-paced growth, we are building the backbone of the AI software revolution.

If you’re hungry to have an impact, want to build at a fast pace, and ready to work at the forefront of AI, we want to hear from you.

Position description

At Sonar, we are seeking an ambitious senior researcher to join our cross-disciplinary team, innovating and developing the next generation of solutions to build enterprise-grade coding agents and models.

You will harness Sonar’s deep experience in static analysis, and combine it with your experience and leading techniques in large language model post-training.

If you are interested in being hands-on with state-of-the-art research, building practical solutions that deliver high-impact for customers, and working within a team of innovative researchers and engineers, this role is for you.

  • Outcome
  • Driven

Development: Work in a team developing and implementing advanced products that enable customers to post-train models to power their agentic coding practices.

These agents need to generate high-quality code that meets their enterprise standards and software development best practices.

  • Translate Prototypes to

Products: Collaborate closely with researchers, research engineers, MLOps and engineers within the team to design hypotheses and experiments, iterate proofs-of-concept quickly and develop successful prototypes into cutting-edge products.

  • Subject
  • Matter

Expert: You will contribute and discuss ideas within our cross-disciplinary team, driving towards the next generation of coding model post-training for enterprises.

  • Spearhead Research & Innovation: Stay up-to-date with the latest LLM and agentic developments; you are driven by learning and teaching others.

You will need to explain complex technical details and concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

The ideal candidate will have

  • An advanced academic background (Master’s or Ph D) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
  • 4+ years industry experience in machine learning, with a solid understanding of modern software engineering practices and tools.
  • Fluency with Python including core ML frameworks, experience with Rust or any of Sonar Qube’s flagship languages (C#, C++, JS/TS, Java) is a plus.

• Expertise in post-training of large language models, including

  • Policy optimization algorithms (e. g. GRPO, PPO)
  • Verifier-based RL frameworks (RLVR)
  • Supervised fine-tuning (SFT)
  • Data-centric AI methods, including synthetic data and curation
  • Parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT)
  • Preference and Safety Alignment
  • Experience of driving research projects, delivering valuable findings and prototypes, and then converting them into products.
  • Excellent communication skills in English and a talent for explaining complex scientific topics clearly and concisely.
  • In-office culture

We're intentional about this.

We believe the best teams are built in the room together.

Three anchor days — Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays — create the collaboration rhythm that makes a hub office worth having.

Candidates need to be genuinely based in the location the role is posted — if that's not where you are today, we're happy to support relocation for the right person.

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion

At Sonar, we believe that our diversity is our strength.

We are a global company that values and respects different backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

If you need any accommodation, please reach out to us at hiring@sonarsource. com.

All offers of employment at Sonar are contingent upon the results of a comprehensive background check and reference verification conducted before the start date.

Applications that are submitted through agencies or third party recruiters will not be considered.

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AI Researcher - Post-Training employer: SonarSource

Sonarsource is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant tech hub of Greater London, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, including leadership development and access to cutting-edge AI technologies, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the software development landscape.

SonarSource

Contact Details:

SonarSource Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land AI Researcher - Post-Training

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Apply Directly through Our Website

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We think you need these skills to ace AI Researcher - Post-Training

Machine Learning
Large Language Model Post-Training
Python
Rust
Policy Optimization Algorithms
Verifier-based Reinforcement Learning Frameworks
Supervised Fine-Tuning

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!

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Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at SonarSource, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.

Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at SonarSource. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!

How to prepare for a job interview at SonarSource

Brush Up on Your Statistics

For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!

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Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!

Get Comfortable with Python and R

Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at SonarSource!

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.