6+ years of experience in applied research, data science, or ML with a focus on NLP, information retrieval, or knowledge systems
2+ years of hands-on experience building or contributing to production AI/ML systems
Strong foundation in information retrieval: dense and sparse retrieval, embedding models, search relevance
Experience with RAG systems: chunking strategies, vector databases, retrieval optimization
Proficiency in evaluation methodology: metrics design, golden dataset creation, A/B testing, statistical significance
Strong Python skills and comfort with notebook-driven research workflows
Experience communicating research findings to engineering teams and translating insights into actionable improvements

Stock equity
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
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
Paid Parental Leave policy, after six months of employment. Employees also receive access to Kindbody fertility and family-building benefits and dedicated leave specialists
Generous annual stipends for both professional and personal development, empowering you to invest in your continued growth. You’ll also have access to a wide range of internal learning opportunities
Flexible vacation policy, paid holidays, and other perks to recharge

Hybrid — Bay Area

Team size: 600+. Structure: award-winning, mission-driven team

This role will receive a competitive base salary, benefits, and stock, typically in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
The applicable salary range for this role is: $192,000 - $259,800.

Drata is hiring a Senior Applied Research Engineer 2