Research Scientist

About Zettabyte

• AI computing company: we turn GPU hardware into reliable, high-utilisation AI compute through software, orchestration and full lifecycle operations
• What we offer: enterprise GPU cloud and AI inference, software for data centre owners to run their own GPU clouds, turnkey and sovereign AI data centres, edge computing and GPU financing
• Who we work with: GPU owners, data centre operators, enterprises, OEMs, integrators and financiers across multiple markets
• How we work: fast-moving and high-accountability; we value speed, ambition, clarity, ownership and measurable outcomes

Role Summary

The Research Scientist conducts foundational research in GPU systems and AI infrastructure and shapes Zettabyte's long-term technical direction.

The role develops new approaches to performance, efficiency and utilisation and works with research engineers to turn them into prototypes.

Reporting Line

Reports to: Co-CTO and CPO

Key Responsibilities

• Research: conduct foundational and applied research in GPU systems and AI infrastructure.
• New approaches: develop novel approaches to improving performance, efficiency and utilisation.
• Experiments: design experiments and simulations to validate research hypotheses.
• Prototypes: work with research engineers to translate ideas into prototypes.
• Analysis: analyse large-scale system behaviour and performance data.
• Publications: publish internal research findings and contribute to external publications where appropriate.
• Field awareness: stay current with academic and industry research trends.
• Roadmap: influence long-term technical direction and the research roadmap.

Required Qualifications

• A PhD or equivalent experience in computer science, engineering or a related field
• A strong background in systems, distributed computing or ML systems
• Experience designing rigorous experiments and evaluations
• Comfort with ambiguity and open-ended problems
• Strong communication skills for explaining complex ideas

Bonus Qualifications

• Publications in systems, ML systems or performance-related research
• Experience with large-scale GPU clusters or AI platforms
• Familiarity with scheduling, resource allocation or systems optimisation
• Experience collaborating with product or engineering teams

What Success Looks Like (First 90 to 180 Days)

• A research agenda agreed with engineering leadership
• Experiments designed and run, with results shared internally
• At least one idea handed to research engineering as a prototype
• Contribution to the long-term technical roadmap

Why This Role Matters

• Long-term direction: this role defines the ideas behind how Zettabyte builds and runs GPU infrastructure.
• Real impact: there is a direct path from research to production.

Working Norms at Zettabyte

• Bias to action: deliver drafts quickly, then iterate on feedback
• Be precise: double-check numbers and facts; sloppy analysis creates downstream cost
• Make it usable: package outputs for decision-making, not data dumps
• Own the process: whoever drives a deliverable manages stakeholders and timelines
• Learn the ecosystem: understand GPUs, cluster operations and the buyer landscape

Details

• Workplace: Hybrid, 3 days in office and 2 days remote, Palo Alto
• Employment type: Full-time
• Compensation: USD 200,000 to 260,000 a year base salary, plus equity
• Benefits: Medical, dental and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; paid time off and US public holidays; equity
• Work authorisation: Required in the United States
• Equal opportunity: Zettabyte is an equal opportunity employer; qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in line with the California Fair Chance Act

Interested in This Position?

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