Research Scientist

traverse· Research
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📍 San FranciscoFullTime

About this role

About Traverse

Traverse is a research data lab building reinforcement learning environments for frontier AI labs. We focus on the non-deterministic, taste-dependent work that makes up most of the economy and that nobody else has figured out how to train models on. We work directly with the labs building the most capable models on earth as a thought partner. Backed by Y Combinator.

About the Role

As a Research Scientist, you will design and build RL environments that teach models to do work that has historically required years of human expertise. You'll work at the boundary of research and domain knowledge, figuring out how to formalize what good performance looks like in messy, real-world domains and turning that into training signal that actually works. We're looking for people who think carefully about what makes a good environment, not just what makes a functional one. No prior ML or AI experience is required - we care about the ability to reason rigorously about hard problems and learn fast.

In this role, you will

  • Research and develop novel approaches to reward modeling, environment design, and evaluation for non-deterministic domains

  • Collaborate with domain experts to understand what mastery looks like in a given field and translate that into training signal

  • Build and run experiments to validate that environments actually improve model capabilities

  • Contribute to Traverse's research output and help establish our methodology across new verticals

  • Work directly with partner labs to integrate environments into their post-training pipelines

Your background looks something like this

  • MS, PhD, or equivalent depth of experience in any rigorous field

  • Strong implementation skills and ability to run experiments quickly

  • Genuine curiosity about domains outside your own and how expertise works in them

  • You go deep on problems and don't stop at the obvious answer

Bonus

  • Experience with reinforcement learning, RLHF, reward modeling, or LLM evaluation

  • Published research in any field

  • Prior work at or with a frontier AI lab

Compensation

Competitive - Offers Equity, Bonuses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Research Scientist position at traverse?
The salary for this Research Scientist role at traverse is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Research Scientist position at traverse located?
This Research Scientist role at traverse is based in San Francisco. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Research Scientist role at traverse full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Research Scientist role in the Research department at traverse.
Which team or department does the Research Scientist at traverse belong to?
This Research Scientist position is part of the Research department at traverse. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Research Scientist position at traverse?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to traverse's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Research Scientist job at traverse posted?
This Research Scientist position at traverse was posted on Feb 24, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Research Scientist
traverse
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You'll be redirected to traverse's official application page on Ashby ATS.