Research Scientist

Founding Research ScientistABOUT THE ROLEThis is a research-driven, high-impact role for ML researchers who want to push the boundaries of real-time AI. As a Founding Machine Learning Researcher, you'll focus on advancing model capabilities for human-like voice agents operating in complex, real-world environments.You'll explore new approaches across LLMs and audio models, design novel evaluation methods, and prototype systems that improve reasoning, latency, and conversational quality. Your work will directly influence production systems, bridging cutting-edge research with real-world deployment. If you're excited about solving open-ended ML problems, experimenting rapidly, and shaping how voice AI systems think and perform, this is a unique opportunity to do so at scaleKEY RESPONSIBILITIESResearch & Experimentation – Explore and develop new techniques across LLMs and audio models to improve reasoning, latency, and conversational quality in real-time systemsModel Prototyping – Rapidly build and iterate on experimental models and pipelines, turning research ideas into working prototypesEvaluation & Benchmarking – Design novel evaluation frameworks, datasets, and metrics to measure performance on complex, real-world voice tasksBridge Research to Production – Collaborate closely with engineering to translate research insights into deployable systemsHuman Feedback Loops – Develop methods to incorporate human evaluation into model improvement, especially for subjective conversational qualityAdvance the Frontier – Stay at the cutting edge of ML research and bring new ideas into Retell's product and infrastructureYOU MIGHT THRIVE IF YOUStrong ML Research Background – You've worked on advanced ML problems (for example: LLM pre-training and post training, transcription model training, text to speech model training, or multimodal systems), either in industry or academiaDeep Technical Foundation – Comfortable with PyTorch, model architectures, and the math behind modern machine learningExperimental Mindset – You enjoy exploring open-ended problems and iterating quickly on ideasBridging Theory & Practice – You can translate research into systems that work in real-world environmentsStartup-Ready – You thrive in fast-paced environments with high ownership and ambiguityCollaborative & Clear Communicator – You can explain complex ideas and work cross-functionally to drive impactJOB DETAILSCash: $225,000 - $400,000 base salaryEquity: Offers EquityLocation: Redwood City, CA, US (100% Relocation Provided)US Visas: Open to sponsoring work authorization for qualified candidates, including H1B/H-1B, TN, L-1, E-3, F-1 (OPT/CPT), and O-1 visasOTHER BENEFITS100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance$70/day DoorDash credit for unlimited meals and snacks$200/month wellness reimbursement$300/month commuter reimbursement$75/month phone bill reimbursement$50/month internet reimbursementCOMPENSATION PHILOSOPHYBest Offer Upfront: Choose from three cash-equity balance options, no negotiation neededTop 1% Talent: Above-market pay (top 5 percentile)High Ownership: Small teams, >$1M revenue/employee, significant equityPerformance-Based: Offers tied to interview performance, not past salaries