Forward Deployed Research Scientist, Life Sciences
Goodfire
CA$220,000 - CA$315,000 / year
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Description
About Goodfire
Goodfire is an AI interpretability research lab. We build interpretability agents and infrastructure to understand, monitor, and align AI models.
We believe that AI is the most consequential technology of our time. Yet AI models are trained by trial and error today, with limited understanding of what drives their behavior. Our goal is to advance the research and technology needed to fully understand and align AI so humanity can trust superintelligence.
Goodfire is a public benefit corporation founded by researchers who helped pioneer the field of interpretability at OpenAI and Google DeepMind. We are headquartered in San Francisco and have raised over $200M from leading investors including Lightspeed, Menlo, and B Capital.
About the role
Scientific AI models trained to model natural systems are revolutionizing research across scientific domains, including protein interaction prediction, protein design, disease prediction, and materials discovery. We’re looking for a Forward Deployed Research Scientist (Biology) to join our team to work directly with customers to develop new techniques for understanding and designing large biological foundation models. You’ll work closely with a small, mission-driven team of scientists and engineers to conduct novel research, build practical tools, and push the field forward.
Where you might contribute:
- Forward deployed research – lead scientific research with our partners to interpret advanced biological foundation models (genomic foundation models, ViTs, PLMs) to uncover what they’ve learned.
- Project delivery and implementation – own research delivery on high-stakes projects with customers and do whatever it takes to make delivery successful, including: problem and hypothesis definition, data sourcing, tool building, iteration, and implementation. Translate research into tools for real-world applications in precision medicine, digital pathology, drug discovery, and more.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work directly with customers to conduct original research in interpretability and computational biology.
- Prototype techniques to visualize and manipulate internal model structures.
- Collaborate with engineering to turn research into production-ready tools.
- Drive partnership success by collaborating closely with our customers and partners.
- Help define and evolve our research direction.
What you’ll bring
Required experience
- PhD/MD or equivalent experience in biology, with a strong ML background and experience in computational biology or bioinformatics.
- Deep familiarity with large models and a passion for understanding how they work.
- Fluency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch.
- Strong writing and communication skills for explaining complex ideas.
- Drive to move quickly and take ownership.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience leading research in a forward deployed environment and in service of a customer’s requirements.
- Familiarity with interpretability, alignment, or safe model development.
- Experience in startup or fast-paced lab environments.
Our values
Goodfire is looking for individuals who embody our values and share our deep commitment to making interpretability accessible. We are building a team first and foremost.
Put mission and team first
All we do is in service of our mission. We trust each other, deeply care about the success of the organization, and choose to put our team above ourselves.
Improve constantly
We are constantly looking to improve every piece of the business. We proactively critique ourselves and others in a kind and thoughtful way that translates to practical improvements in the organization. We are pragmatic and consistently implement the obvious fixes that work.
Take ownership and initiative
There are no bystanders here. We proactively identify problems and take full responsibility over getting a strong result. We are self-driven, own our mistakes, and feel deep responsibility over what we’re building.
Action today
We have a small amount of time to do something incredibly hard and meaningful. The pace and intensity of the organization is high. If we can take action today or tomorrow, we will choose to do it today.
Where we work
We are hiring for this position in our San Francisco HQ. We are in person 5 days a week, with one company-wide remote week per month.
What we offer
This role offers market competitive salary, equity, and competitive benefits.
The expected salary range for this position is $220,000 - $315,000 USD
Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to join a vital mission at an important point in its trajectory — we are developing groundbreaking technology with a world-class team on the critical path to ensuring a safe and beneficial future for humanity. If you want to do your life’s work with us, even if you believe you do not meet every single requirement, apply now.
Benefits
- $315,000 USD Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to join a vital mission at an important point in its trajectory
- we are developing groundbreaking technology with a world-class team on the critical path to ensuring a safe and beneficial future for humanity. If you want to do your life’s work with us, even if you believe you do not meet every single requirement,
About this role
Goodfire is an AI interpretability lab working to make advanced AI models understandable and trustworthy. This role puts you at the intersection of that mission and real-world biology: you'll work directly with customers to develop new techniques for interpreting large biological foundation models—systems trained on genomic data, protein structures, and medical images. The work spans from foundational research (uncovering what these models have learned) through to building practical tools for precision medicine, drug discovery, and digital pathology.
You'll own the full arc of customer-facing research projects: defining problems, sourcing data, prototyping interpretability techniques, and collaborating with engineers to turn discoveries into production tools. This is forward-deployed science, meaning you're not publishing in isolation—you're solving real problems for partners who depend on your work. The role demands both scientific rigor and pragmatism: the ability to move quickly, take ownership when things get messy, and communicate complex findings clearly to non-specialist audiences.
You'll need a PhD or MD in biology with strong computational skills (Python, PyTorch) and genuine familiarity with how large models work. Prior experience in interpretability, alignment research, or fast-paced lab environments is valued but not required. The position is full-time, in-office in San Francisco, with a salary range of $220,000–$315,000 plus equity and benefits.
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Pay for this role
$220,000 to $315,000 per year
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