AI Machine Learning Engineer - Query Understanding

Details

Perplexity is an AI-powered answer engine building accurate, trustworthy AI to power decision-making and information discovery. The Query Understanding team focuses on deeply and accurately understanding user intent to provide relevant, context-aware responses across Perplexity’s platform.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop core machine learning models for query understanding, including intent classification, query rewriting, agentic task decomposition, and function calling.
• Leverage and fine-tune large language models (LLMs) to capture nuanced user intent and contextual signals from user queries and behaviors.
• Deliver end-to-end ML solutions and own the full stack to optimize query understanding.
• Partner with product management and collaborate with other engineers to ensure fast, high-quality deliverables to end users.

Requirements

• 4+ years of industry experience in related fields, including search, information retrieval, recommendation systems, applied machine learning, and NLP.
• Strong programming skills with the ability to work across the stack in a typical recommendation system or LLM stack.
• Experience in training deep neural networks (DNNs) and Transformer-architecture models.
• Self-motivated, willing to take ownership of tasks, and passionate about shipping quality products.

Compensation & Benefits

• Cash compensation range: $200,000 - $280,000 per year.
• Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.
• Equity may be part of the total compensation package.
• Benefits include comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents and a 401(k) plan.

Locations

• New York City; Palo Alto; San Francisco (United States)