Bay Hybrid Full-time USD 220,800 – 298,800 / year

Drata is hiring a Staff Applied Research Engineer

Responsibilities

  • Design and assess strategies for information access and reasoning across retrieval-augmented generation, agent-based systems, and traditional machine learning techniques.
  • Develop prototypes for generative AI workflows that interpret and analyze compliance-related data such as controls, risks, and regulatory requirements.
  • Investigate machine learning and probabilistic methods when generative AI is less effective, including classification, ranking, graph analysis, uncertainty calibration, and weakly supervised learning.
  • Create and manage evaluation systems using curated datasets, automated quality measurements, and regression monitoring.
  • Develop and optimize ranking and re-ranking solutions using cross-encoders, large language model-based rerankers, learning-to-rank algorithms, and custom scoring logic.
  • Conduct experiments to test hypotheses and measure performance gains prior to deployment.
  • Analyze failure patterns and develop taxonomies for errors in retrieval, reasoning, and content generation.
  • Work closely with AI and software engineering teams to transition proven methods into production systems.
  • Monitor advancements in applied research related to retrieval-augmented generation, agent architectures, LLM evaluation, and relevance modeling, and integrate new techniques into the product.

Benefits

  • Equity compensation through stock grants
  • Employer covers up to 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for employees and dependents, with added wellness support and healthcare concierge services
  • Financial protection package including a 401(k) plan, employer-paid life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and optional discounted financial products
  • Paid parental leave available after six months of employment, along with fertility and family planning support through Kindbody and dedicated leave guidance
  • Annual allowances for professional and personal growth, plus internal learning resources to support skill development and career advancement
  • Flexible vacation policy, paid holidays, and additional perks to support work-life balance

Compensation

Competitive base salary with benefits and stock, typically in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Work Arrangement

Hybrid — Bay

Team

Team size: 600+

About company
Drata
Drata is a trust management platform that uses AI-driven automation to modernize governance, risk, and compliance, helping thousands of businesses develop a more secure, proactive, and risk-aware organization to continuously maintain trust with customers.
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Job Details
Department Engineering
Category data
Posted 23 days ago