Research Lead, Open Benchmarks Grants

Snorkel AI
New York +3 more
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Research professionals with expertise in AI/ML evaluation and a passion for cross-functional collaboration will find this highly visible, customer-facing role ideal.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a track record in designing AI/ML benchmarks and strong academic collaboration experience
    — “Design state of the art datasets that drive frontier model training and evaluation based on current model performance and academic partnerships”
  • Researchers who can translate complex technical insights into compelling business narratives
    — “Translate benchmark insights into clear, compelling narratives that articulate the ROI of expert-curated data for customer-facing presentations”

Things to consider

  • The role demands external representation and visibility through publications and customer engagements
    — “Represent Snorkel's research externally through publications, blog posts, conference talks, and customer engagements”
  • The position requires a balance between rigorous technical research and strategic business alignment
    — “Work cross-functionally with data operations, product, engineering, and strategy to surface research findings that inform the company roadmap”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in translating technical findings into business-focused narratives
    — “Translate benchmark insights into clear, compelling narratives that articulate the ROI of expert-curated data”
  • Emphasize prior work in LLM evaluation and dataset design for model performance
    — “Design state of the art datasets that drive frontier model training and evaluation based on current model performance”
  • Showcase cross-functional collaboration in research, product, and commercial settings
    — “Work cross-functionally with data operations, product, engineering, and strategy”
  • Demonstrate ability to represent research externally through publications or talks
    — “Represent Snorkel's research externally through publications, blog posts, conference talks”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • development of state-of-the-art datasets
  • publication of research findings
  • successful collaboration with cross-functional teams
Typical background
PhD in machine learningNLPrelated field

Skills & requirements

Required

Ai/ml EvaluationNLPResearch DesignData OperationsProduct Strategy

Preferred

LLM EvaluationData-centric AI

Stack & domain

AI Data DevelopmentDataset CreationLLM EvaluationResearchData OperationsProductEngineeringStrategyCommunicationTeamworkLeadershipAIData-centric AINLP

About the role

Original posting from Snorkel AI via Greenhouse

About Snorkel

Snorkel AI is the frontier AI data lab, helping teams build the data and environments behind high-performing frontier and agentic AI. We combine technology with research-driven AI data development to create datasets, benchmarks, evals, and custom solutions for real-world AI systems. Founded out of the Stanford AI Lab in 2019, Snorkel works with leading AI labs and enterprises to move from better data to better outcomes. 

Excited to help us redefine how AI is built? Apply to be the newest Snorkeler!

ABOUT THE ROLE 

We're looking for a Staff or Senior Research Scientist to collaborate with partners and lead the development of the next frontier benchmarks and datasets. This is a highly visible, customer-facing role at the intersection of research, company strategy, and go-to-market. You'll design datasets taking into account frontier model performance and work with our academic partners, and then partner with delivery, product and go-to-market to scale out production. You will also  serve as a credible technical partner for our customers, prospects, and drive results that impact the broader research community. 

This role reports directly to the Head of Research and is ideal for someone who is energized by cross-functional work and wants to understand how startups operate across research, data operations, and commercial teams. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

Design state of the art datasets that drive frontier model training and evaluation based on current model performance and academic partnerships 

Translate benchmark insights into clear, compelling narratives that articulate the ROI of expert-curated data for customer-facing presentations, technical reports, and go-to-market materials.

Work cross-functionally with data operations, product, engineering, and strategy to surface research findings that inform the company roadmap. 

Stay at the frontier of LLM evaluation research and bring best practices into Snorkel's workflows

Represent Snorkel's research externally through publications, blog posts, conference talks, and customer engagements that advance the conversation around data-centric AI

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

Strong research background in AI/ML evaluation, NLP, or related fields, with a track record of rigorous experimental design — especially around measuring the impact of training and evaluation data on model behavior. 

Exceptional communication skills — able to present complex technical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences 

Comfort operating in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment with ambiguous problem spaces 

Genuine interest in GTM strategy, startup dynamics, and the commercial side of AI data services. 

Ph.D. in machine learning, NLP, or a related field preferred; equivalent industry or research lab experience considered.

Be Your Best at Snorkel

Joining Snorkel AI means becoming part of a company that has market proven solutions, robust funding, and is scaling rapidly—offering a unique combination of stability and the excitement of high growth. As a member of our team, you’ll have meaningful opportunities to shape priorities and initiatives, influence key strategic decisions, and directly impact our ongoing success. Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical expertise, explore leadership opportunities, or learn new skills across multiple functions, you’re fully supported in building your career in an environment designed for growth, learning, and shared success.

Snorkel AI is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Snorkel AI embraces diversity and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Snorkel AI prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, performance, merit, and business need.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Source: Snorkel AI careers (Greenhouse)

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