We're a venture-backed startup in Chicago exploring how AI can transform people's experiences.

Although we're still pre-market, we're building products to help people see themselves in the world around them. We believe the following:

That humans are unique and deserve to be heard and listened to
That where folks choose to go - or stay, or eat, or work, or play, you get the idea - ought to be a reflection of who they are as a person
That new advancements in technology can make our collective experiences more human and personal, not less

If you share any of our beliefs - or our love for people, maps, recommendations, and listening - then we'd love to talk to you!

The Role

We're looking for an AI/Machine Learning Engineer specializing in NLP to join our innovative team. You'll develop and optimize our personalization engine, working with advanced language models and machine learning techniques.

What You'll Do

Work on the AI layer for Outfit's customer facing product
Collaborate closely with engineering, product and design teammates on concepting and scoping new features
Develop advanced prompt engineering techniques
Work closely with backend team to integrate LLM output in the API
Build self-improving and self-evaluating LLM systems
Fine-tune models for our domain
Optimize prompt orchestration and content filtering
Implement Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for place-specific knowledge
Improve text summarization and semantic search
Set up and manage hosted models
Implement streaming for real-time AI interactions
Establish LLM tracing and evaluation metrics

Requirements

About You

Self-starter mentality: You take initiative and drive projects forward independently
Comfort with ambiguity: You thrive in a fluid, fast-paced environment where requirements may change rapidly
Adaptability: You're ready to pivot quickly and learn new technologies as needed
Ownership mindset: You treat the company's success as your personal mission
Hunger for learning: You're constantly seeking to improve your skills and stay at the cutting edge of AI/ML advancements
Actively listening: You're constantly learning from customers and data and not afraid to form opinions about your observations

Your Technical Skills

3-5 years of experience in ML engineering, focusing on NLP
Proficient in Python and NLP libraries
Working knowledge of Java or Kotlin
Experience with AWS SageMaker and vector stores (e.g., pgvector)
Understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs) and prompt engineering
Experience with model fine-tuning and deployment
Familiar with AWS services and cloud architecture
Strong data processing and analysis skills
Experience with Git and collaborative development
Ability to balance theory with practical implementation
Problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Excellent communication skills, especially explaining AI concepts

Benefits

Our Values

Listen First: We are curious, empathetic, and authentic. We listen to our teammates and show up prepared to be listened to. We talk to our customers and prove hypotheses using data. We are inclusive and open-minded. We leave our egos at the door and win as a team
Build with Optimism: We take big swings and bias toward action. We prioritize the hardest puzzles knowing great things require persistence. We invent products, concepts, and ways of working, celebrating both the successes and the learnings
Leave it Better: We want a better world for our kids. We don't stay in our lanes - we take out our trash, comment on each other's code, engage in healthy debate, and build things we can be proud of. We use AI responsibly

Why Join Outfit Labs?

Be part of a small team changing how people experience the world
Work on challenging problems at the intersection of AI and human experience
Flexible work environment with a focus on work-life balance
Access to cutting-edge AI tools to boost your productivity
Medical, Vision, and Dental benefits

We're looking for people ready to roll up their sleeves and build something extraordinary. If you're excited about turning a vision into reality and willing to put in the work, we'd love to hear from you.

Even if you don't meet every requirement, we'd still like to hear from you. We're seeking individuals eager to learn and grow with us.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now.

Please note:

This position requires working on-site at our West Loop, Chicago office at least 3 days per week
Relocation assistance is not provided
Remote work is not available for this role
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States
We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers for this position

Outfit Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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AI/Machine Learning Engineer

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