Senior AI Research Engineer / Research ML Architect
About the role
YappiX is hiring a Senior AI Research Engineer / Research ML Architect to work on new AI architectures, algorithms, LLM systems, and AI-first products.
This is not a role for someone who only integrates existing APIs or builds wrappers around third-party models. We are looking for a strong research-minded engineer who can turn hypotheses into architecture, architecture into experiments, and experiments into working systems.
We build in an AI-first way: AI IDEs, AI agents, and deep coding are used to accelerate thinking, design, development, testing, and iteration — not to replace engineering judgment. We need someone who can think independently, challenge weak ideas, and propose better ones.
Responsibilities
- design and validate new AI architectures and algorithms
- build model prototypes, inference pipelines, and evaluation pipelines
- work with LLMs, neural networks, transformers, and new computational approaches
- turn research hypotheses into reproducible experiments
- contribute to AI-first products, internal tools, and research prototypes
- improve model quality, reliability, latency, memory efficiency, and quality-per-compute
- work with data, metrics, benchmarking, and error analysis
- use AI IDEs and AI coding tools as part of an efficient R&D workflow
Requirements
- strong Python
- solid PyTorch
- deep understanding of machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks
- hands-on experience with LLMs, NLP, transformers, and model architecture design
- ability to work independently without waiting for detailed product specs at every step
- strong attention to detail, engineering rigor, and experimental discipline
- ability to critique ideas, propose alternatives, and defend decisions with evidence
- understanding of evaluation, benchmarking, reproducibility, and research methodology
- experience with Linux, Docker, Git, and a modern AI-first toolchain
Nice to have
- experience with CUDA, distributed training, inference optimization, Triton, or DeepSpeed
- systems engineering and GPU optimization experience
- experience reading and implementing research papers
- experience designing new architectures rather than only fine-tuning or integrations
- experience using AI IDEs such as Cursor, Claude Code, or Copilot as serious engineering tools
You may not be a fit if
- you need step-by-step task breakdowns for everything
- you write code for process rather than for outcomes
- you rely on AI tools but cannot reason independently
- you avoid ownership of architecture and technical decisions
What we offer
- a chance to help shape a new AI-first direction
- work on new AI architecture rather than repetitive integrations
- real ownership over product, architecture, and R&D
- a compact, high-signal team with low bureaucracy
- a fast hypothesis-to-prototype cycle
- remote / Skolkovo / remote
- work format: Full-time, remote
How to apply
Send your CV, GitHub, portfolio, and a short note about problems you solved independently to hr@yappix.ru or apply at https://yappix.ru/en/contact