Bandwidth

AI Engineer (Research & Development)

Bandwidth$100K — $130K *
Consumer Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in AI and Machine Learning, specializing in areas like NLP or LLMs.
  • Strong programming skills in Python and familiarity with ML libraries like PyTorch and TensorFlow.
  • Deep knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs) and techniques like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
  • Experience implementing applications using LLMs through APIs or open-source.
  • Demonstrated success in highly collaborative, fast-paced environments—experience in startups is a plus.
  • Eagerness to learn and explore emerging technologies in AI and ML.

Responsibilities

  • Investigate emerging AI/ML research, focusing on LLMs and their applications.
  • Design, prototype, and test AI-powered features and services.
  • Integrate AI/ML models into future Bandwidth products.
  • Collaborate within a cross-functional R&D team to share knowledge and skills.
  • Experiment with new AI methodologies and advanced prompting techniques.
  • Stay updated on AI trends, evaluating new tools and methodologies for integration.
  • Present findings and prototypes to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Benefits

  • 100% company-paid Medical, Vision, & Dental coverage for employees and their families.
  • Four weeks of PTO for all new hires with a strict embargo against work during time off.
  • Additional PTO can be accrued through volunteer hours and participation in company challenges.
  • Special program for extra time off to commemorate significant life events.
  • Encouragement of health and wellness through 90-minute workout lunches and access to a nutritionist.
Full Job Description
What We Are Looking For:

Bandwidth's Research & Development (R&D) team is at the forefront of exploring and harnessing transformative technologies to define the next generation of communication experiences. We operate as a small, agile, and T-shaped group, diving deep into emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. We're seeking a highly motivated AI/ML Engineer to join this dynamic team in our Raleigh, NC headquarters.

You thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where you can rapidly iterate on ideas and prototypes. You have a startup mentality, comfortable with ambiguity and driven by a relentless curiosity to explore, build, and learn. If you're passionate about applying cutting-edge AI/ML, especially Large Language Models (LLMs), to solve real-world problems and shape future products, this is the role for you. This position requires working full-time from our Raleigh office.

What You'll Do:
  • Dive deep into the latest AI/ML research, particularly in the LLM space, identifying opportunities relevant to Bandwidth's domain.
  • Design, build, and test proof-of-concepts and prototypes for novel AI-powered features and services.
  • Implement and integrate AI/ML models, including those based on LLMs, into potential future Bandwidth offerings.
  • Collaborate intensely within a small, cross-functional R&D team, sharing knowledge and contributing to a T-shaped skill set.
  • Experiment with various AI techniques, including advanced prompting strategies, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and potentially agentic systems.
  • Stay constantly updated on the rapidly evolving AI landscape, evaluating new tools, models, and methodologies.
  • Leverage LLM-powered IDEs and development tools (like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, etc.) to accelerate the innovation cycle.
  • Clearly articulate and present research findings, experiment results, and prototype demonstrations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What You Need:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, AI, ML, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Demonstrable expertise and hands-on experience in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, with deep knowledge in at least one specific AI domain (e.g., NLP, LLMs, Speech Recognition).
  • Proven experience (typically 3+ years) designing, building, and evaluating AI/ML models and systems.
  • Strong programming skills, particularly in Python and familiarity with common ML libraries/frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, Hugging Face).
  • Solid understanding and practical experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) and associated concepts, including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and various prompting techniques (e.g., Zero-shot, Few-shot, Chain of Thought).
  • Experience implementing services or applications built on top of foundational LLMs (via APIs or open-source models).
  • Proven ability to thrive in a small, highly collaborative team environment with an urgent, results-oriented culture. Significant experience in startups or similar fast-moving, resource-constrained organizations is highly desirable.
  • A relentless curiosity and passion for exploring new technologies and techniques in the AI/ML space.
  • Experience using LLM-powered IDEs or coding assistants.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate ambiguity.
  • Must be able to work full-time from the Bandwidth headquarters in Raleigh, NC.

Bonus Points:
  • Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, AI, ML, or a related field.
  • Experience with LLM training, fine-tuning (e.g., LoRa), and/or developing custom evaluation benchmarks.
  • Familiarity with advanced AI architectures and concepts such as agentic systems (e.g., ReAct), multi-modal models, Mixture of Experts (MoE), or LLM tooling/external capabilities.
  • Experience with MLOps practices and cloud-based ML platforms (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, Google AI Platform).
  • Familiarity with AI Developer and Agentic Frameworks (e.g., OpenAI, LangChain, CrewAI, Autogen)
  • Experience contributing to AI/ML research, publications, or open-source projects.

The Whole Person Promise:

At Bandwidth, we're pretty proud of our corporate culture, which is rooted in our "Whole Person Promise." We promise all employees that they can have meaningful work AND a full life, and we provide a work environment geared toward enriching your body, mind, and spirit. How do we do that? Well...
  • 100% company-paid Medical, Vision, & Dental coverage for you and your family with low deductibles and low out-of-pocket expenses.
  • All new hires receive four weeks of PTO.
  • PTO Embargo. When you take time off (of any kind!) you're embargoed from working. Bandmates and managers are not allowed to interrupt your PTO - not even with email.
  • Additional PTO can be earned throughout the year through volunteer hours and Bandwidth challenges.
  • "Mahalo moments" program grants additional time off for life's most important moments like graduations, buying a first home, getting married, wedding anniversaries (every five years), and the birth of a grandchild.
  • 90-Minute Workout Lunches and unlimited meetings with our very own nutritionist.


Are you excited about the position and its responsibilities, but not sure if you're 100% qualified? Do you feel you can work to help us crush the mission? If you answered 'yes' to both of these questions, we encourage you to apply! You won't want to miss the opportunity to be a part of the BAND.

About Bandwidth

Bandwidth is a telecommunications company that provides cloud-based communications services to businesses. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bandwidth's services include voice and messaging APIs, 911 access, and phone number management. The company's customers include some of the largest and most innovative companies in the world, including Google, Microsoft, and Zoom. Bandwidth is committed to providing reliable and scalable communications solutions that help businesses connect with their customers and employees.
Learn more about Bandwidth
Size
1,100 employees
Market Cap
$577 million
Industry
Net Income
-$43.9 million
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+26.4%
Revenue
$343.1 million
NASDAQ

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