# AI Agent Researcher at Vastai

> Onsite · United States · Unspecified · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/ashby%3Avastai%3Aeb0150b0-48e2-4e40-9c9f-610306a5ea3d (read 2026-11-13).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Vastai](https://alderhq.app/companies/vastai)
- Location text: San Francisco; Los Angeles
- Where it can be done from (inferred): Onsite · United States (evidence: "Location: San Francisco; Los Angeles")
- Posted: 2026-07-03 (133 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-07 · last verified: 2026-11-07
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/vastai/eb0150b0-48e2-4e40-9c9f-610306a5ea3d
- Skills listed (inferred): Python, C++, LLMs

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: $160k–$320k per year (from the listing's pay field)
- Market band for similar posted roles (SF Bay Area, n 2174): p25 $161k, median $200k, p75 $240k

## Description (the employer's text)

### About Us

Vast.ai’s cloud powers AI projects and businesses all over the world. We are democratizing and decentralizing AI computing—reshaping our future for the benefit of humanity.

We are a growing and highly motivated team dedicated to an ambitious technical plan. Our structure is flat, our ambitions are out‑sized, and leadership is earned by shipping excellence.

We seek engineers with strong intrinsic drive, a true passion for advancing the state of the art, and a mix of architecture, coding, and communication skills.

LOCATION: On-site at our office in San Francisco or Westwood, Los Angeles.

### About the Role

As an Agent Research Engineer, you will help advance the highest levels of the tech stack to imbue AI systems with true agency. Collaborating directly with our technical founder and diverse team, we will build the next generation of general learning agents. Possessing and maintaining a wide, deep and holistic knowledge base of cutting-edge research is crucial for advancing the mission. Many are called, but few are chosen.

Full-Time

On-site at either our SF or LA offices

### Tech Stack

Python, Engrish, LLMs, ANNs, C++/Cuda

### Ideal Experience

Deep expertise in systems engineering across the tech stack

Strong holistic background in machine learning theory and practice

Diverse knowledge of neural architectures/circuits: transformers etc

Published research at top AI conferences

### Key Responsibilities

Lead cutting-edge research in AI agents, focusing on memory, reliability, and reasoning

Prototype and evaluate novel state-of-the-art methods/models

### Interview Process

After submitting your application, our technical team reviews your credentials. If selected, you'll proceed through the following stages:

Initial screening (virtual 15 minutes)

Quick dive into Vast, systems and architectures (virtual 30 minutes)

LLM assisted coding assessment (virtual 1 hour)

Meet and greet with coding assessment (on-site 2 hours)

Our goal is to complete the interview process in two weeks.

### Benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance

401(k) with company match

Meaningful early-stage equity

Onsite meals, snacks, and close collaboration with founders/tech leaders

Ambitious, fast-paced startup culture where initiative is rewarded

---
Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/ashby%3Avastai%3Aeb0150b0-48e2-4e40-9c9f-610306a5ea3d and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.