Staff AI Research Scientist

MacPaw is a software company with headquarters in Boston, Kyiv, and Limassol. We develop and distribute software for macOS and iOS and believe that humans and technology can reach their greatest potential together.
Today, our products have more than 30 million users worldwide and every 5th Mac on Earth has a MacPaw app installed on it.
MacPaw gathers open-minded people who support each other and aspire to change the world around us.
We are proud to be Ukrainian. The support and development of Ukraine are significant parts of the company's culture.
We are building a world-class AI research unit and are looking for a Staff AI Research Scientist to strengthen our team. Since this unit is still young, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape its direction, contribute to its growth, and help establish it as a leader in AI research.
At our company, you'll be working with the latest trends in the industry, conducting cutting-edge research, and bridging the gap between academic advancements and real-world applications. You'll have the chance to develop AI solutions that power products used by millions of users, ensuring that your innovations have a tangible impact.
If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI research, publishing at top-tier conferences, and applying research to large-scale products, we'd love to hear from you!
In this role, you will:

• Drive cutting-edge research in fields critical to the AI Division's objectives, leading to innovative solutions and contributions to scientific advancement (e.g. Local LLM, Agentic AI, 3D animation generation)
• Take ownership of research initiatives from ideation to implementation
• Define research goals, methodologies, and approaches and personally conduct key aspects of the research
• Bridge the gap between advanced research and real-world applications by integrating state-of-the-art research results into our products
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that scientific innovations enhance product functionality and deliver measurable value to the customers
• Deliver high-impact research that results in publications accepted at top-tier AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ACL, CVPR). Represent the organization as a speaker, establishing the research team as a world-class unit through exceptional contributions and scientific discourse
• Organize and conduct knowledge-sharing sessions for research teams and stakeholders, covering analysis methods, research processes, and successful implementation cases
• Provide mentoring and opportunities for students and other fellow employees

Skills you'll need to bring:

• Prior experience as an AI Research Scientist with a proven innovation track record
• Ph.D. or equivalent research experience in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or a related field
• Strong record of publications at top-tier AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, ECCV, ICLR)
• Proven expertise in Large Language Models (LLMs), hands-on experience with training, fine-tuning, and optimizing LLMs for various applications
• Experience in designing novel AI methodologies and leading research initiatives from ideation to deployment
• Proven ability to bridge academic research with industry needs by developing scalable AI solutions that create measurable value.
• Experience in translating cutting-edge research into practical applications, integrating state-of-the-art models into real-world products and production environments
• Experience mentoring junior researchers, students, and colleagues in AI domains
• Advanced level of English

As a plus:

• Experience working in academic, corporate, or government AI research labs, contributing to cutting-edge advancements

What We Offer

• We are a Ukrainian company, and we stand with Ukraine against the russian aggression
  
  • We maintain workplaces for the mobilized Macpawians and provide financial support to colleagues or their families affected by the war. Here , you can also read about the MacPaw Foundation, which intends to help save the lives of Ukrainian defenders and provide relief to as many civilians as possible.
• We are committed to our veterans
  
  • Our Veteran Career and Empowerment Program is designed to ensure our veterans and active military personnel receive the recognition, support, and opportunities they deserve.
• Hybrid work model
  
  • Whether to work remotely or at the hub is entirely up to you. If you decide to mix it, our Kyiv office, which works as a coworking space, is open around the clock. The office is supplied with UPS and Starlink for an uninterrupted work process.
• Your health always comes first
  
  • We guarantee medical insurance starting on your first working month. For those abroad, you can receive a yearly Medical insurance allowance as compensation for managing your medical expenses.
• Flexible working hours
  
  • You can choose a schedule that is comfortable for you. No one here tracks your clock in/out because MacPaw is built on trust and cooperation.
• Space to grow both professionally and personally
  
  • Education opportunities to grow both hard and soft skills, annual development reviews, and internal community.
• Teams we are proud of
  
  • We build honest, transparent, and reliable relationships within teams. Every Macpawian can improve processes and implement their ideas. We encourage open and constructive feedback and provide training for Macpawians on giving and receiving feedback.
• Office designed for people (and pets)
  
  • Our office has it all: a spacious workplace with enough room for sitting up, lying down, and running around; a gym for recreation; cozy kitchens; a sleeping/meditation room; and a terrace with a view where we throw summer parties. Also, we have two cats living in the office, and you are welcome to bring your pets to the office (we have separate floors for cats and dogs).
• Time-off policy that covers life's needs
  
  • Convenient personal time-off policy to help you take care of essential matters in your personal life, and parental leaves. On top of all that, sabbaticals are open after 5 years of being with MacPaw.
• Join social initiatives with MacPawCares
  
  • MacPaw participates in numerous humanitarian aid and charity projects across many fields, and you are welcome to jump in to make the world a better place.
• We're an equal-opportunity employer. Here is a safe place for applicants of all backgrounds
  
  • We are hiring talented humans. Meaning with all our variety of backgrounds and identities, including service members and veterans, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals with disabilities, and other often underrepresented groups. MacPaw does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
  • Some benefits are under development, and new adjustments are possible.