Research Engineer
Timaeus
📍 Remote (Global) 🕔 Full Time
💰$50-100 USD/hour ⏳ 24/01/2026
We’re hiring for research engineer roles to work on applications of singular learning theory to alignment.
Responsibilities
Build, maintain, and expand research infrastructure.
Scale experiments to models up to O(100B) parameters.
Meet weekly and plan tasks with the engineering team.
Collaborate closely with researchers to translate theoretical insights into empirical research tools.
(Depending on seniority) Assist or lead the development and maintenance of codebases and repositories.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, ML).
Strong software engineering background.
Experience with ML frameworks (bonus: distributed computing).
Track record of building research infrastructure.
Ability to balance engineering rigor with the needs of a fast-moving research organization.
Current Research Areas
Spectroscopy: Scaling susceptibility-based interpretability to large language models (up to 20B parameters), developing automated methods for discovering internal structure, and applying susceptibility-based probes to alignment-relevant tasks like detecting misalignment.
Patterning: Using susceptibilities to control what structures neural networks develop during training - including preventing, removing, inducing, and selecting specific internal structures. Near-term applications include steering reward models away from spurious correlations (e.g., format biases).
Compensation & Contract Details
These are contract positions paid on an hourly basis at $50-100/hour USD, depending on prior experience and location. Contractor rates are based on a salary range of USD 80,000 – 160,000, with the inclusion of a ~30% premium to compensate for the absence of employee benefits like health insurance and paid leave. There may be flexibility in compensation for exceptional candidates with significant experience.
Important Note: These roles are currently tied to specific grants, ranging from 6 months to a year in duration. We are interested in potentially transitioning successful contractors to longer-term positions, but cannot make commitments on this until we confirm follow-on funding.
Working arrangements:
Remote-first with flexible hours: We’re a distributed team across time zones. We have hubs in Berkeley, Melbourne, and London for those who prefer in-person collaboration.
Minimal meetings: 2-3 hours of scheduled meetings per week for most team members, with optional co-working sessions.
Conferences and work trips: Attendance at relevant conferences covered by Timaeus.
Team retreats: In-person staff retreats twice a year.
Application Process
Here’s a summary of the application process for a successful candidate:
Application: Submit the application form by 24 January 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT.
Assessment(s): Complete a paid, 4-hour assessment designed to simulate the work you’d do in the role.
Screening call: Attend a 30-minute call with Jesse Hoogland (Executive Director) or Stan van Wingerden (Director of Engineering).
Technical interview: Participate in a 30-minute remote interview with team members to evaluate your technical skills and expertise relevant to the role. This may be combined with the screening call.
References: Share references who can comment on your aptitudes. Good references can notably strengthen your application.
We’re reviewing candidates on a rolling basis and may invite applicants to the next stage or even make offers before the end of the application deadline.
Apply Now
Interested candidates should submit their applications by 24 January 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT using the application form below.
Join us in shaping the future of AI alignment research. Apply now to be part of the Timaeus team!
