Software Engineer, Applied AI Research
Required skills
- AI
- LLM
- Generative AI
- Backend Architecture
- Probabilistic Systems
- Product Sense
- Agentic Systems Design
- Prototyping
- Quantitative Thinking
- Experimental Design
Nice to have
- marketing applications
Role summary
Hightouch is seeking applied AI research engineers to innovate in agentic AI marketing applications, focusing on image and video generation. The role emphasizes experimentation, prototyping, and applying generative AI to customer growth, rather than theoretical research. Key responsibilities include developing proofs of concept, designing autonomous improvement systems, and advancing AI-generated video realism and brand asset generation. Essential qualifications include strong probabilistic and quantitative thinking, backend architecture or probabilistic systems expertise, and product intuition. While no prior LLM experience is required, creativity and experimental drive are highly valued. This is a senior, remote-first role with a location-independent salary range of $180,000 - $400,000 USD annually.
About Hightouch
Hightouch is an Agentic Marketing Platform powered by the industry-leading Composable CDP. With complete brand context, customer data, and performance history in one place, every marketer finally has the power to build and ship end-to-end campaigns themselves. Teams move faster, stay on brand, and get AI marketing that actually works.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, Hightouch enables marketing teams to analyze performance, brainstorm ideas, and generate creative at a speed and quality that wasn't previously possible.
Named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Customer Data Platforms, Hightouch is trusted by leading enterprises like Domino's, Spotify, Aritzia, Cars.com, Ramp, and PetSmart.
At Hightouch, our mission is to help our customers leverage data and AI to grow their businesses. The team is ambitious, impact-driven, efficient — and we believe humility, kindness, and compassion are essential to our success. If you're energized by velocity, obsessed with raising the bar, and want to build alongside people who care deeply about each other and our customers, we'd love to meet you.
About the Role
We’re looking to add applied AI research engineers to the team. The ideal candidate will have strong probabilistic and quantitative thinking, the ability to be highly creative and experimental with LLM applications, and ground their work in potential customer and product applications.
Our applied research team focuses on finding new and innovative techniques to improve the frontier of what is possible in agentic AI marketing applications, with a particular focus on image and video. We focus less on theory or writing research papers, and more on experimenting, prototyping, and exploring new methods for applying generative AI to help our customers grow their companies.
Example workstreams include:
We're seeking talented, intellectually curious, and motivated individuals interested in exploring the forefront of AI. While no prior experience with LLMs and AI is required, strong technical skills, particularly in backend architecture or probabilistic systems, and product intuition are essential for understanding and executing these projects from start to finish.
This is a senior role, but we focus on impact and potential for growth more than years of experience. The salary range for this position is $180,000 - $400,000 USD per year, which is location independent in accordance with our remote-first policy. We also offer meaningful equity compensation.
Interview Process
Our interview process focuses on evaluating fit for the most important dimensions of the role: product sense and creativity with LLMs, ability to architect backend systems, and alignment with Hightouch’s values. Notably, we don’t do any programming interviews as we believe they are low signal to noise and aren’t a good evaluation mechanism.
E-Verify Statement
Hightouch participates in E-Verify. After you join the team, we'll verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. by submitting information from your Form I-9 to the Social Security Administration and, if needed, the Department of Homeland Security. This process happens post-hire only — we never use E-Verify to pre-screen applicants.
E-Verify NoticeE-Verify Notice (Spanish)Right to Work NoticeRight to Work Notice (Spanish)
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