Model Designer (AI)

Location: Hybrid role based in San Francisco, California

Annual salary: $300,000–$400,000 USD

Company

Thinking Machines Lab builds frontier AI models, tools for model customization, and interfaces for broader human-AI communication.

What you will do

• Work with researchers to understand, predict, and shape model behavior.
• Design how models collaborate with people, including when to act, ask for input, or invite oversight.
• Build adaptable defaults that reflect users' knowledge and values rather than imposing a single voice.
• Partner with research, product, and design teams on live and multimodal human-AI interfaces.
• Develop methods to collect high-quality tacit knowledge and create evaluations of human-model collaboration.
• Use user feedback, quantitative insights, and research priorities to improve products while managing multiple projects on tight timelines.

Requirements

• Clear written communication and the ability to explain complex technical concepts.
• Ability to understand users with different needs, contexts, domains, and cultures.
• Several years of experience in product design, UX research, content or conversation design, or model behavior work at an AI lab.
• Experience working across research, product, engineering, and other technical teams.

Nice to have

• Experience designing model behavior or personality and influencing technical roadmaps.
• Hands-on experience with large language models, prompts, output evaluation, and model behavior analysis.
• Portfolio or writing samples demonstrating exceptional taste and clarity.
• Experience designing experiments, qualitative studies, A/B tests, or model evaluations.
• Comfort with quantitative analysis and communicating findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission focused on building AI that extends human will and judgment.
• Visa sponsorship is available, with support through the visa process for suitable candidates.
• Relocation support is available as needed.
• Health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Unlimited paid time off and paid parental leave.