Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer

adaptionยท Applied ML
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๐Ÿ“ Bay Area๐Ÿ“ San FranciscoFullTime

About this role

The Role

You'll operate at the bleeding edge of our technology and our customers' most consequential problems โ€” simultaneously. You'll sit across from customers who are trying to fundamentally change how their businesses work, figure out where our platform falls short, and build the ML solutions that close the gap. Then you'll do it again for the next customer with an entirely different domain, data landscape, and set of constraints. The problems you solve in the field become the product.

Responsibilities

  • Find and Unlock Alpha: Go deep on customer problems and data workflows to identify the highest-leverage opportunities others miss, then build the solutions that capture them.

  • Ship What's Missing: When the product doesn't cover it, you do. Identify gaps through hands-on customer engagement and implement production-grade ML solutions that fill them.

  • Raise the Bar: Develop compelling demos, deliver technical presentations to senior stakeholders, and set the standard for what great looks like across our customer base.

  • Own the Outcome: You're not handing off a deck โ€” you're a strategic and technical partner from discovery through deployment, accountable for results.

Qualifications

  • 4+ years of industry experience, including 2+ years in a customer-facing technical role.

  • Strong software engineering skills and familiarity with ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow)

  • Solid understanding of data modeling for training and how curation decisions shape model performance

  • Experience training or fine-tuning models using human feedback, reward signals, or other adaptive learning techniques

  • Excellent communication skills and ability to operate across varied customer environments and tech stacks

  • A mindset of ownership, curiosity, and a bias toward action

Above all, we're looking for great teammates who make work feel lighter and aren't afraid to go out on a limb with bold ideas. You don't need to be perfect, but you do need to be adaptable. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check every box.

About Us

Most AI is frozen in place - it doesn't adapt to the world. We think that's backwards. Our mandate is to build efficient intelligence that evolves in real-time. Our vision is AI systems that are flexible, personalized, and accessible to everyone. We believe efficiency is what makes this possible - it's how we expand access and ensure innovation benefits the many, not the few. We believe in talent density: bringing together the best and most driven individuals to push the boundaries of continual adaptation. We're looking for builders and creative thinkers ready to shape the next era of intelligence.

Benefits

  • Flexible work: In-person collaboration in the Bay Area, a distributed global-first team, and team offsites.

  • Adaption Passport: Annual travel stipend to explore a country you've never visited. We're building intelligence that evolves alongside you, so we encourage you to keep expanding your horizons.

  • Lunch Stipend: Weekly meal allowance for take-out or grocery delivery.

  • Well-Being: Comprehensive medical benefits and generous paid time off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer position at adaption?
The salary for this Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer role at adaption is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer position at adaption located?
This Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer role at adaption is based in Bay Area, 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 Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer role at adaption full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer role in the Applied ML department at adaption.
Which team or department does the Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer at adaption belong to?
This Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer position is part of the Applied ML department at adaption. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer position at adaption?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to adaption's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer job at adaption posted?
This Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer position at adaption was posted on Apr 16, 2026. Apply as soon as possible โ€” early applications are often reviewed first.
Founding Forward Deployed Machine Learning Engineer
adaption
Apply for this role โ†—

You'll be redirected to adaption's official application page on Ashby ATS.