Senior Research Engineer (AI)

TL;DR

Senior Research Engineer (AI): Driving exploratory R&D and rapid prototyping for emerging technologies with an accent on AI/ML applications and RAG chatbot architecture. Focus on translating experimental concepts into actionable insights and leading technical strategy for high-impact consumer-facing products.

Location: Remote or hybrid in NY, DC, or CT; must be based in AZ, CA, CT, IL, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, TX, VT, VA, or Washington, DC.

Salary: $115,000–$160,000 annually (based on location).

Company

An independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to a fair marketplace through rigorous product testing, journalism, and consumer advocacy.

What you will do

• Lead end-to-end exploratory spikes and proof-of-concept projects for emerging technologies.
• Own architectural decisions for AskCR, a RAG-based chatbot, including retrieval and evaluation strategies.
• Identify strategic opportunities in AI/ML and translate them into functional prototypes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Digital Product, Data Engineering, and User Research.
• Mentor engineers and establish best practices for documenting and synthesizing research outputs.
• Cultivate a culture of rapid learning, experimentation, and technical excellence.

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Must be based in one of the following states/districts: AZ, CA, CT, IL, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, TX, VT, VA, or Washington, DC.
• Deep expertise in Python (FastAPI) and frontend frameworks (React/React Native).
• Proven track record of building and shipping applied AI products, including data pipelines and model evaluation.
• Experience in technical leadership, mentoring, and communicating complex concepts to stakeholders.
• Not eligible for sponsorship or relocation assistance.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical benefits starting on the first day of employment.
• Behavioral health coverage and family planning support.
• Generous 401K match.
• Commitment to a fair, transparent, and competitive compensation structure.
• Opportunity to work on mission-driven projects that empower consumers.