[Remote] Staff Applied AI Engineer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Drata is a leading compliance software company committed to trust and security across the internet. They are seeking a Staff Applied AI Engineer to enhance the quality and effectiveness of their AI systems through research and experimentation, focusing on optimizing retrieval strategies and building evaluation frameworks for their compliance platform.ResponsibilitiesDesign and evaluate information access + reasoning strategies across RAG, agents, and classic ML: chunking, embedding models, hybrid search, metadata filtering, structured retrieval, tool use, and multi-step workflowsPrototype GenAI workflows (including agentic systems) that map and reason over compliance objects (controls ↔ risks ↔ requirements)Explore ML + probabilistic approaches where GenAI is not the best fit: classifiers, ranking models, graph/link prediction, calibration, and weak supervisionBuild and maintain evaluation frameworks: golden datasets, automated quality metrics, regression detectionImplement and tune ranking/reranking systems: cross-encoders, LLM-based rerankers, learning-to-rank, custom scoring functionsRun experiments to validate hypotheses and quantify improvements before production rolloutDebug failure modes and build error taxonomies across retrieval, reasoning, and generationCollaborate with AI and Software Engineers to hand off validated approaches for productionizationStay current on applied research in RAG, agents, LLM evaluation, and relevance modeling; bring innovations into the productSkills6+ years of experience in applied research, data science, or ML with a focus on NLP, information retrieval, or knowledge systems2+ years of hands-on experience building or contributing to production AI/ML systemsStrong foundation in information retrieval: dense and sparse retrieval, embedding models, search relevanceExperience with RAG systems: chunking strategies, vector databases, retrieval optimizationProficiency in evaluation methodology: metrics design, golden dataset creation, A/B testing, statistical analysisStrong Python skills and comfort with notebook-driven research workflowsExperience communicating research findings to engineering teams and translating insights into actionable recommendationsExperience with compliance, legal, or document-heavy domainsPublications or contributions in IR, NLP, or RAG evaluationBenefitsShared Success: We provide stock equity to ensure that as the company grows, you share directly in that success.Health & Wellness: Up to 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents, along with comprehensive wellness benefits and healthcare concierge services designed to support your needs beyond traditional insurance.Financial Well-being: A comprehensive suite of financial benefits, including a 401(k) plan, company-paid life and disability insurance, tax-advantaged spending accounts, and a range of discounted voluntary offerings to help you customize and strengthen your overall financial position.Family Support: We want to support you in life's most important moments, so we offer a paid Parental Leave policy, after six months of employment.Growth & Development: Generous annual stipends for both professional and personal development, empowering you to invest in your continued growth.Time Off & Flexibility: We believe that to do your best work, you should get the time you need for rest, rejuvenation and recovery.Company OverviewDrata is a Trust Management Platform that automates compliance workflows, streamlines risk management, and continuous security assurance It was founded in 2020, and is headquartered in San Diego, California, USA, with a workforce of 501-1000 employees. Its website is https://drata.com.Company H1B SponsorshipDrata has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 1 in 2026, 1 in 2025, 2 in 2024, 1 in 2023. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.