AI Research Director (Austin)

About Us:webAI is pioneering the future of artificial intelligence by establishing the first distributed AI infrastructure dedicated to personalized AI. We recognize the evolving demands of a data-driven society for scalability and flexibility, and we firmly believe that the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Our mission is to build a future where a company's valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private, enabling the deployment of large-scale AI models directly on standard consumer hardware without compromising the information embedded within those models. We are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of our users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business. We are a team driven by truth, ownership, tenacity, and humility, and we seek individuals who resonate with these core values and are passionate about shaping the next generation of AI.About the Role:The AI Research Director will lead webAI’s advanced research initiatives across large language models, multimodal systems, edge inference, and distributed AI. This role drives the scientific vision behind our core technologies and works closely with engineering leadership to convert cutting-edge research into production-grade capabilities.You will oversee research teams, establish long-term research roadmaps, design novel model architectures, and push innovation that directly shapes webAI’s platform, model performance, and differentiated technical position. This role is ideal for a hands-on, forward-thinking leader who wants to build what the future of private, distributed AI looks like.Responsibilities:Lead webAI’s AI and ML research strategy including long-term vision, experimentation roadmap, and architectural innovationOversee research on LLMs, diffusion and multimodal models, inference optimization, and distributed executionAdvance techniques for compression, quantization, distillation, and privacy-preserving learning for edge and on-device AICollaborate with Engineering and Product teams to translate research breakthroughs into scalable production-ready capabilitiesBuild, mentor, and lead a world-class research team fostering creativity, scientific rigor, and innovationEvaluate emerging technologies, academic research, and industry trends to influence strategic directionDesign and evaluate experiments, benchmarks, and methodologies for model performance and efficiencyRepresent webAI in research discussions with customers, partners, and the broader AI communityEnsure research initiatives align with customer missions, security requirements, and enterprise needsQualifications:You read papers on a daily basis8+ years of experience in AI, machine learning research, deep learning, or related fieldsExperience leading research teams and delivering impactful ML innovationsExpertise in modern AI architectures including transformers, diffusion models, multimodal systems, and reinforcement learningExperience designing, training, and optimizing large-scale ML modelsStrong understanding of distributed systems, edge inference, and model efficiency techniques such as quantization and pruningProficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAXStrong research background demonstrated through publications, patents, or deployed innovationsAbility to communicate complex concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiencesBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related fieldPreferred SkillsMaster’s or PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, AI, Mathematics, or related fieldExperience with privacy-preserving AI such as federated learning or secure executionStrong mathematical foundation in ML optimization and model theoryExperience integrating novel research into production environmentsAbility to operate in fast-paced, high-growth startup environmentsWe at webAI are committed to living out the core values we have put in place as the foundation on which we operate as a team. We seek individuals who exemplify the following:Truth - Emphasizing transparency and honesty in every interaction and decision.Ownership - Taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, demonstrating commitment to the success of our clients. Tenacity - Persisting in the face of challenges and setbacks, continually striving for excellence and improvement.Humility - Maintaining a respectful and learning-oriented mindset, acknowledging the strengths and contributions of others.Benefits:We strive to provide competitive benefits to all employees. The benefits listed in this posting generally apply to U.S.-based employees. For employees hired outside the United States, benefits may vary based on local law, country-specific requirements, and the employment platform or entity through which the employee is hired.Competitive salaryComprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package401(k) matchEquity options$200/month Health & Wellness stipendContinuing Education support$500/year Function Health subscriptionFree parking for in-office employeesFlexible Time Off (FTO)Parental leave for eligible employeesSupplemental life insurancewebAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of webAI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.LocationAustin, TXEmployment TypeFull timeLocation TypeHybridDepartmentEngineeringAI/ML