At MacPaw, we craft software that makes everyday tech life simpler, cleaner, and more enjoyable. From globally loved products like CleanMyMac and Setapp to emerging cybersecurity tools like ClearVPN and Moonlock, we are building a product ecosystem that reaches millions of people worldwide.
We believe humans and technology can reach their greatest potential together. By fusing high engineering standards, thoughtful design, and practical AI, we rethink how people interact with their devices and shape the daily tech routines of the future.
Working at MacPaw means owning outcomes, not just tasks. We build for global scale from day one, giving you the trust, freedom, and room to experiment.
In our team, we challenge ideas directly, support each other genuinely, and build software that makes a meaningful difference — both in the tech world and beyond.
This role is based in our Boston office on a hybrid schedule (3 days/week in-office).
We’re looking for an AI Research Scientist to join our AI&Research Unit, a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fundamental artificial intelligence and bridging the gap between academic advancements and real-world technology.
Our fundamental research stream focuses on on-device LLM efficiency, deep architectural explorations, and localized machine learning solutions for the macOS ecosystem. It helps uncover high-level utility and solve complex technical challenges directly on user hardware, establishing our technology as a generalized leader in the global market.
As an AI Research Scientist, you will take deep ownership of our fundamental research initiatives. You’ll define, test, and coordinate advanced optimization workflows and structural model modifications while driving strategic collaborations with global scientific entities.
If you’re excited to lay the foundation for on-device AI efficiency to become a global industry standard, we’d love to hear from you!
In this role, you will:
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Prepare fundamental research proposals within our specialized LLM efficiency and optimization streams.
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Investigate new directions in LLM optimization by surveying relevant academic publications, formulating hypotheses, and running deep-dive experiments.
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Collaborate closely with internal research scientists and external academic labs on joint research projects and scientific publications.
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Work alongside the applied research stream to surface, validate, and transition relevant research prototypes into downstream production environments.
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Contribute to a strong publication record at top-tier international AI conferences,
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Take full ownership of your research niche, driving initiatives from ideation to implementation with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
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Take part in internal knowledge-sharing sessions and weekly paper clubs to consistently improve domain expertise.
Skills you’ll need to bring:
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Deep experience in Natural Language Processing (NLP) or a similar machine learning domain, gained through solid academic work, industry experience, or both.
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Strong theoretical and practical understanding of recent LLM optimization techniques (ex. quantization, KV-cache compression, speculative decoding, and distillation).
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Direct hands-on experience with parameter-efficient fine-tuning (including LoRA and other adapters) and mixture-of-experts (MoE) architectures.
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Advanced prototyping skills and a proven ability to implement complex algorithms and architectures directly from academic papers.
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Fluent programming capabilities in Python and modern frameworks such as PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
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Robust fundamental knowledge of linear algebra, probability theory, and mathematical statistics.
As a plus:
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A track record of publishing original research at international research conferences in AI/ML/SE/HCI domains.
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Practical experience in performance engineering, including code profiling and low-level optimization (GPU, Metal, C++...).
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Hands-on experience training, running, or deploying localized LLM models on device frameworks like MLX.
What We Offer
Your well-being is always a priority
- We believe the health, satisfaction, and financial security of employees and their families are important not only to each individual’s well-being but also to achieving our organization’s overall objectives. We offer medical, vision, and dental insurance benefits.
Hybrid work model & flexible working hours
- If you join us in Boston, we offer a hybrid work model, with three days a week on-site in our Boston office. For candidates from Ukraine, we have a remote-first format with our HQ in Kyiv operating in a co-working mode. You can choose a schedule that is comfortable for you. No one here tracks your clock in/out because MacPaw is built on trust and cooperation.
Space to grow both professionally and personally
- Whatever your dreams and aspirations are, we have you covered. Education opportunities to grow both hard and soft skills, annual development reviews, internal community.
Teams we are proud of
- We build honest, transparent, and reliable relationships within teams. Every Macpawian can improve processes and implement their ideas. We encourage open and constructive feedback and provide training for Macpawians on giving and receiving feedback.
Time-off policy that covers life’s needs
- At MacPaw, we genuinely understand the value of taking time to unwind and attend to your loved ones. That's why we provide our employees with a generous PTO benefit that can be utilized for multiple purposes.
We’re an equal opportunity employer. Here is a safe place for applicants of all backgrounds
- We are hiring talented humans. Meaning with all our variety of backgrounds and identities, including service members and veterans, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals with disabilities, and other often underrepresented groups. MacPaw does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
