Applied Researcher (AI)

TL;DR

Applied Researcher (AI/VLA): Developing and optimizing Vision-Language-Action models for self-driving technology with an accent on architectural exploration and bridging the gap between academic theory and scalable applications. Focus on identifying failure points in state-of-the-art models and redesigning architectures for high-performance computing environments.

Location: Hybrid (Seattle, Washington) — must be in office at least 3 days per week

Company

hirify.global is developing self-driving technology to create a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future for mobility and logistics.

What you will do

• Perform deep-dive architectural exploration of VLM/VLA models to determine viability for specific problem sets.
• Act as the subject matter expert and technical mentor for the engineering team.
• Translate complex academic papers into production-ready, scalable code.
• Redesign and optimize model architectures to leverage high-performance supercomputing environments.

Requirements

• PhD in AI, Computer Science, or Robotics from a top-tier research lab.
• Deep expertise in Vision-Language Models (VLM) and Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models.
• Proven ability to identify and troubleshoot failure points in current state-of-the-art architectures.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Location: Must be based in Seattle, WA and able to work in-office at least 3 days per week.

Nice to have

• Strong depth of programming experience in modern C++.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, high-integrity environment focused on achieving ambitious goals.
• Hybrid work model designed to increase empathy and effective leadership through in-person interaction.
• Strong organizational commitment to safety and inclusive hiring practices.