Applied ML Research Scientist (PhD New Grad)

Flowstate is building the intelligence layer for social media content, aiming to enhance the speed and quality of creator content. The role involves developing advanced machine learning models and systems to optimize content creation, serving as a subject matter expert in the process.

Responsibilities

• In your first 4 months, you'll build a baseline multimodal LLM-based recommendation model with a mentor who has been a lead of a world-class recommendation system
• From there, you'll push the system's capabilities across three fronts: Video Representation Learning: Design embedding models that extract and quantify the creative signals — pacing, structure, hook strength — that actually drive engagement
• Closed-Loop Optimization: Build RL frameworks that use augmented and real-world data to continuously retrain and sharpen model outputs, turning every campaign into a learning signal
• Agentic Tooling: Develop internal ML agents that accelerate your own research workflows — automated experimentation, eval pipelines, and model iteration at startup speed
• This system is a major component of Flowstate's core intelligence layer. What you build here compounds directly into the defensibility of our platform
• You'll also serve as a ML subject matter expert across the team — partnering with AI engineers and product to translate research into production systems that empower creators and brands

Skills

• Current Ph.D. candidate or recent graduate in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related quantitative field (Expected graduation by end of 2026)
• Fluency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch
• One or more publications or presentations in top-tier ML conferences (e.g., ICML, CVPR, NeurIPS, ICLR)
• Currently accepting candidates located in the USA only
• Prior experience in building recommendation systems, multi-modal LLMs (VLMs), computer vision, or reinforcement learning
• While you have deep expertise in a specific area, you possess the 'generalist' mindset required to solve problems across the broader ML stack
• Prior experience in a startup or high-growth environment where research moves at a rapid execution pace

Benefits

• Annual performance bonus
• Sizable pre-IPO equity
• H-1B sponsorship is available for qualified candidates, subject to company policy and legal eligibility

Company Overview