Director of Research Engineering, Datasets

We are building AI to simulate the world through merging art and science. We believe that world models are at the frontier of progress in artificial intelligence. Language models alone won’t solve the world’s hardest problems – robotics, disease, scientific discovery. Real progress requires models that experience the world and learn from their mistakes, the same way that humans do. And this kind of trial and error can be massively accelerated when done in simulation, rather than in the real world. World models offer the most clear path to general-purpose simulation, changing how stories are told, how scientific progress is made and how the next frontiers of humanity are reached. Our team consists of creative, open minded, caring and ambitious people who are determined to change the world. We aspire to continuously build impossible things and our ability to do so relies on building an incredible team. If you are driven to do the same, we'd love to hear from you. About the role We are looking for a Director of Machine Learning specializing in Dataset Engineering to lead our strategic efforts in data acquisition, management, and optimization. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on data analysis and technical expertise. What you'll do Establish and oversee data partnerships to obtain high-quality datasets for our AI models Develop data strategies that support Runway's product and research objectives Analyze our data ecosystem to find gaps and areas for improvement Work with external partners on new data projects Keep up with advances in dataset engineering and machine learning, applying new methods to our work Participate in hands-on data analysis, guiding the team in data exploration and interpretation Manage data costs and implement ways to optimize data usage and storage What you'll need 8+ years of experience in machine learning and dataset engineering, focusing on large-scale, multimodal datasets Experience leading data strategies and partnerships at a senior level Expertise in data analysis, with practical experience in examining complex datasets Knowledge of data cost management and optimization techniques Understanding of current developments in dataset engineering and machine learning Experience working with external data providers and managing large data projects Ability to connect technical concepts with business strategies Leadership skills to guide a team of data engineers and analysts Communication skills to explain complex data concepts to various audiences Runway strives to recruit and retain exceptional talent from diverse backgrounds while ensuring pay equity for our team. Our salary ranges are based on competitive market rates for our size, stage, and industry, and salary is just one part of the overall compensation package we provide. There are many factors that go into salary determinations, including relevant experience, skill level, and qualifications assessed during the interview process and maintaining internal equity with peers on the team. The range shared below is a general expectation for the function as posted, but we are also open to considering candidates who may be more or less experienced than outlined in the job description. In this case, we will communicate any updates in the expected salary range. Lastly, the provided range is the expected salary for candidates in the U.S. Outside of those regions, there may be a change in the range, which again, will be communicated to candidates. Salary range: $400,000-$490,000 Working at Runway Great things come from great teams. We’d love to hear from you. We’re committed to creating a space where our employees can bring their full selves to work and have equal opportunity to succeed. So regardless of race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, origin, ability, age, veteran status, if joining this mission speaks to you, we encourage you to apply. More about Runway Universal World Simulator GWM-1 Gen-4.5 General World Models Robotics SDK Conversational Real-time Agents Runway Studios We're excited to be recognized as a best place to work Crain's | InHerSight | BuiltIn NYC | INC