AI Researcher

ZetaChain is seeking a part-time AI Researcher to lead high-impact, applied research projects that combine AI, blockchain, and cross-chain interoperability. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment, is deeply curious, and can independently design, build, and run experiments from scratch.

You will explore cutting-edge directions in generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and agent-based systems - taking ideas from concept to prototype - and collaborate closely with our engineering team to translate research breakthroughs into real-world applications.

• Formulate and execute small, high-leverage research projects aligned with our product roadmap (e.g., LLM evaluation, retrieval, agent systems, multimodal research).
• Independently build and validate end-to-end prototypes - from data preparation and model fine-tuning to performance testing and delivering functional demos.
• Design and run experimental pipelines autonomously, including setting up research environments and defining evaluation metrics.
• Translate research outcomes into executable solutions, collaborating with engineering to integrate findings into production systems.
• Stay current with the latest ML and generative AI research, pragmatically adapting state-of-the-art methods to real use cases.
• Work directly with company leadership to align research directions with strategic initiatives and ensure tangible, real-world impact.

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field (required).
• 3+ years of full-time, hands-on ML/AI research experience (academic or industry).
• Demonstrated expertise or ongoing research in AI agents or generative AI.
• Proficiency with PyTorch or JAX, and experience in fine-tuning, evaluation design, and LLM-powered agent experimentation.
• Strong software engineering skills in Python, TypeScript, shell scripting, and cloud environments.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written.
• Scrappy, self-sufficient, and comfortable working independently with minimal guidance.

• Proven track record: shipped models/agents, open-source projects, or publications.
• Experiences with knowledge graph, search engine, information retrieval, natural language processing, multimodal AI.

Base Salary: $60,000 - $90,000 (San Francisco benchmark, prorated for part-time)

This is a contract-to-conversion role, starting as a 3-month part-time contract (20 hrs/week) with the potential to transition into a longer-term or full-time position.

In addition to base compensation, this role includes token incentives, designed to align with the long-term success of the ZetaChain network. We believe in building together and sharing in the growth of the ecosystem.

Find out more about careers at ZetaChain and our Culture of Excellence.