Principal AI Researcher, LLM

Do you have a passion for pushing the boundaries of innovation? Are you excited about AI’s potential to improve the human experience? Then come join the ride!

Who is Cerence?

Cerence is the global leader in AI for transportation, specialized in building AI and voice-powered companions for cars, two-wheelers, and more that enable people to focus on what matters most. With over 500 million cars shipped with Cerence technology, we partner with leading automakers (such as Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi, Toyota and many more), mobility providers, and technology companies to power intuitive, integrated experiences that create safer, more connected, and more enjoyable journeys for drivers and passengers alike.

Our Driving Force

Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation, working around the globe with headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA and 16 other offices across Europe, Asia, and North America. We bring together diverse backgrounds and varied skill sets with the shared goal of advancing the next generation of transportation user experiences. Our culture is customer-centric, collaborative, fast-paced, and fun, with continuous opportunities for learning and development to support your career growth.

Interested in having a significant impact in a dynamic industry with a high-performing global team? We’re looking for an exceptional Principal Research Developer, LLM who is ready to drive the future of mobility with us!

Your Impact :

• Design and implement architectures that use state-of-the-art generative AI models for dialog, destination entry, search and many other domains.
• Leverage your expertise to effectively optimize the use of LLMs through prompting or fine-tuning, shaping them for optimal accuracy, naturalness, and performance.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams comprising data scientists, software engineers, and domain experts. By understanding their requirements, you will collaboratively develop customized solutions that leverage the prowess of LLMs.
• Research, innovate and enhance existing models by integrating the power of LLMs, thereby ensuring optimal performance and speed even on resource-constrained platforms.
• Stay fully abreast of the latest advancements, trends, and research in the realms of generative AI, dialog and language modeling, actively incorporating new techniques, technologies, and best practices to continually enhance the overall performance of our systems.

What You Bring:

• Extensive experience and demonstrated mastery in developing Large Language Models, ideally relating them seamlessly with either Dialog implementations, Virtual Assistants, Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Visual processing, or Text-to-Speech applications.
• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Exceptional programming skills in Python along with a strong ability to implement complex machine learning algorithms.
• Possess strong analytical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a collaborative mindset, ensuring you can thrive within our fast-paced and innovative environment.

What we offer

At Cerence AI, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, personal wellbeing, and life outside of work.  Benefits are effective from the date of hire. Eligible employees have access to:

• The expected salary range for this position is 141,400 - 226,300 USD or 123,300 - 203,500 CAD. The actual salary will be determined based on location, experience and other job-related factors.

• Annual bonus opportunity of 10%

·       Medical, dental, and vision coverage

·       Paid time off and sick leave

·       Employee Stock Purchase Plan

·       Retirement savings programs

·       Time off to volunteer in your community

·       Learning and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement

·       Employee assistance, Wellness resources and a global Rewards and Recognition program ,Specific benefits and eligibility vary by country, province/state, and employment status and will be discussed during the recruiting process

All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable, and may be amended, terminated, or replaced from time to time.

Cerence Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNC and www.cerence.com) is the global industry leader in creating unique, moving experiences for the automotive world. Spun out from Nuance in October 2019, Cerence is a new, independent company that has quickly gained traction as a leader in the automotive voice assistant space, working with all of the world’s leading automakers – from Ford and Fiat Chrysler to Daimler, Audi and BMW to Geely and SAIC – to transform how a car feels, responds and learns. Its track record is built on more than 20 years of industry experience and leadership and more than 500 million cars on the road today across more than 70 languages.  

As Cerence looks to the future and continues an ambitious growth agenda, we need someone to join the team and help build the future of voice and AI in cars. This is an exciting opportunity to join Cerence’s passionate, dedicated, global team and be a part of meaningful innovation in a rapidly growing industry. 

Cerence is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, genetic information and other protected classifications. Cerence Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

All prospective and current Employees need to remain vigilant when it comes to executing security policies in the workplace. This includes:

- Following workplace security protocols and training programs to familiarize with the ways to maintain a safe workplace.
- Following security procedures to report any suspicious activity.
- Having respect for corporate security procedures to allow those procedures to be effective.
- Adhering to company's compliance and regulations.
- Encouraging to follow a zero tolerance for workplace violence.

- Basic knowledge of information security and data privacy requirements (e.g., how to protect data & how to be handling this data).

- Demonstrative knowledge of information security through internal training programs.