Applied AI Researcher

About the Role

We’re looking for a sharp, creative, and analytically minded Applied AI Researcher to shape how we design, prompt, and evaluate intelligent systems at Insight Timer — the world’s largest meditation and wellness community.

This role blends rigorous applied research with hands-on prompt and context engineering. You’ll explore how cutting-edge language models can enable meaningful, emotionally intelligent experiences for millions of people globally.

This isn’t a role buried in a lab. Your research and experimentation will directly shape how millions experience calm, focus, and self-connection through AI. You’ll develop evaluation frameworks, design prompt strategies, and run experiments that translate research insights into scalable, human-centered product features.

About Insight Timer

Insight Timer is home to over 20 million people around the world who come together every day to slow down, breathe, and reconnect — guided by teachers, music, and practices that nurture calm and compassion.

Our mission is simple: to help people live happier, healthier, and more meaningful lives. We believe technology can be a force for restoration — not distraction — and that when millions of people take even a few quiet minutes each day, it creates a ripple effect of wellbeing far beyond the app.

We’re building technology for human flourishing — a platform designed not to steal attention, but to give it back.

What You’ll Do

• Lead applied research on prompt engineering, context design, and evaluation strategies for conversational and generative AI systems.
• Run controlled experiments and rapid iteration cycles to improve model performance and reliability.
• Build and maintain structured evaluation frameworks using tools like LangSmith, LangChain evaluators, or similar platforms.
• Partner with engineering, design, and product teams to translate research insights into impactful user experiences.
• Contribute to the development of context architectures and testing methodologies that scale.
• Clearly communicate findings and recommendations across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What We’re Looking For

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong analytical and experimental mindset — able to design, run, and interpret model evaluations.
• Hands-on experience with prompt engineering, context design, or applied work with LLM-driven systems.
• Comfort with Python and experimentation workflows.
• Proven ability to work across disciplines, bridging research and practical product impact.

Nice to Have

• Experience designing evaluation frameworks or user feedback loops for AI models.
• Background in computational linguistics, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, UX writing, or related fields.
• Familiarity with LLM architectures, prompt-tuning patterns, or applied NLP research.
• Prior work in wellness, mindfulness, or mission-driven technology is a plus.

Benefits

• We offer competitive salaries and options.
• The role is fully remote but you must be willing to travel to Sydney from time to time.
• Extra leave days are available for your well-being and birthday.
• A generous L&D budget & wellbeing bonus.
• We host a global company retreat each year.

We dial in from all over the world, and it's important that our team is just as diverse as our community of users, customers and teachers. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status.

Even if you don't think you quite meet all of the skills listed or tick all the boxes, we'd still love to hear from you.