Research Lead, Training

Goodfire

$400K — $500K+*
Consumer Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Experience leading post-training, model training, or related efforts in AI environments.
  • Proven success in driving ambitious technical programs that merge research and execution.
  • Experience managing teams in fast-paced, high-expectation settings.
  • Strong judgment in balancing long-term research initiatives with immediate product delivery.
  • Passion for intentional design, alignment, and interpretability in AI systems.
  • Ability to work with senior leadership while independently driving direction and outcomes.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the training organization and manage a high-performing research team.
  • Set strategic direction for model training and deployment.
  • Oversee execution of post-training and model improvement efforts.
  • Define and manage research agenda focusing on intentional design and interpretability.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Scientist to align research priorities with practical execution.
  • Build and nurture a strong research team through hiring and mentorship.

Benefits

  • Market competitive salary, equity, and benefits package.
  • Opportunity to work on groundbreaking technology with a world-class team.
  • Experience a mission-driven environment focused on AI safety and accessibility.
Full Job Description
About the role

We're hiring a Research Lead, Training to lead Goodfire's model training organization and define the research agenda behind how we train more capable, aligned, and interpretable AI systems, including exploring the research frontier of intentional design.

We're looking for a senior research leader who can drive model training today while exploring the next generation of training methods, from interpretability-informed approaches to entirely new paradigms. You'll build, mentor, and grow a world-class team of researchers, set technical direction, and partner closely with scientific leadership to turn ambitious ideas into production systems and lasting research breakthroughs.

Key responsibilities:
  • Lead Goodfire's training organization and manage a high-performing team from day one
  • Set direction for model training as Goodfire develops and deploys its own models
  • Drive execution on post-training and model improvement work, with accountability for shipping high-quality training outcomes
  • Define and lead a research agenda in intentional design, interpretability-informed training, and alignment
  • Partner with our Chief Scientist to shape priorities, balance research and delivery, and translate strategy into execution
  • Build the team over time, including hiring, mentoring, and creating strong technical and managerial foundations
What you'll bring
Required experience and qualifications
  • Experience leading post-training, model training, or closely related efforts in a frontier AI environment
  • Track record of owning ambitious technical programs that combine research depth with executional rigor
  • Experience managing teams and operating effectively in fast-moving, high-expectation environments
  • Strong judgment on how to balance longer-term research bets with near-term product or model delivery
  • Interest in intentional design, alignment, and interpretability-informed training
  • Ability to work closely with senior scientific leadership while also independently setting direction and driving outcomes
Our values

Goodfire is looking for individuals who embody our values and share our deep commitment to making interpretability accessible. We are building a team first and foremost.

Put mission and team first

All we do is in service of our mission. We trust each other, deeply care about the success of the organization, and choose to put our team above ourselves.

Improve constantly

We are constantly looking to improve every piece of the business. We proactively critique ourselves and others in a kind and thoughtful way that translates to practical improvements in the organization. We are pragmatic and consistently implement the obvious fixes that work.

Take ownership and initiative

There are no bystanders here. We proactively identify problems and take full responsibility over getting a strong result. We are self-driven, own our mistakes, and feel deep responsibility over what we're building.

Action today

We have a small amount of time to do something incredibly hard and meaningful. The pace and intensity of the organization is high. If we can take action today or tomorrow, we will choose to do it today.
Where we work

We are hiring for this position in both our San Francisco HQ and our New York office. We are in person 5 days a week, with one company-wide remote week per month.
What we offer

This role offers market competitive salary, equity, and competitive benefits.

The expected salary range for this position is $400,000 - $600,000 USD.

Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to join a vital mission at an important point in its trajectory - we are developing groundbreaking technology with a world-class team on the critical path to ensuring a safe and beneficial future for humanity. If you want to do your life's work with us, even if you believe you do not meet every single requirement, apply now.

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