AI/ML Talent Researcher

COMPANY OVERVIEW Deepgram is the leading platform underpinning the emerging trillion-dollar Voice AI economy, providing real-time APIs for speech-to-text (STT), text-to-speech (TTS), and building production-grade voice agents at scale. More than 200,000 developers and 1,300+ organizations build voice offerings that are ‘Powered by Deepgram’, including Twilio, Cloudflare, Sierra, Decagon, Vapi, Daily, Cresta, Granola, and Jack in the Box. Deepgram’s voice-native foundation models are accessed through cloud APIs or as self-hosted and on-premises software, with unmatched accuracy, low latency, and cost efficiency. Backed by a recent Series C led by leading global investors and strategic partners, Deepgram has processed over 50,000 years of audio and transcribed more than 1 trillion words. There is no organization in the world that understands voice better than Deepgram. COMPANY OPERATING RHYTHM At Deepgram, we expect an AI-first mindset—AI use and comfort aren’t optional, they’re core to how we operate, innovate, and measure performance. Every team member who works at Deepgram is expected to actively use and experiment with advanced AI tools, and even build your own into your everyday work. We measure how effectively AI is applied to deliver results, and consistent, creative use of the latest AI capabilities is key to success here. Candidates should be comfortable adopting new models and modes quickly, integrating AI into their workflows, and continuously pushing the boundaries of what these technologies can do. Additionally, we move at the pace of AI. Change is rapid, and you can expect your day-to-day work to evolve just as quickly. This may not be the right role if you’re not excited to experiment, adapt, think on your feet, and learn constantly, or if you’re seeking something highly prescriptive with a traditional 9-to-5. THE OPPORTUNITY We are looking for a Talent Researcher to help us see the talent market clearly- before everyone else does. This is not a reactive sourcing role. This is a high-leverage research position focused on mapping emerging technical domains (speech AI, LLMs, multimodal research, infra ML, voice agents), surfacing under-the-radar talent, and delivering market intelligence that sharpens our hiring precision. You will operate at the intersection of research, analysis, and recruiting execution. If you enjoy turning ambiguity into structured insight and building talent maps the way others build products, this role will feel like home. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Build and maintain deep talent maps across priority domains. - Map org structures at leading AI labs, voice startups, hyperscalers, and adjacent infra companies. Identify key builders, not just visible title holders. - Translate ambiguous hiring signals into structured research plans. - Partner closely with recruiters and hiring managers to clarify “what good looks like,” define search criteria, and deliver actionable longlists quickly. - Deliver market intelligence that shapes strategy. - Provide insights on compensation bands, geographic clustering, hiring velocity, emerging companies, and adjacent talent pools. Help leadership understand not just who to hire- but where and why. - Create just-in-time readiness. - Maintain evergreen longlists in core verticals (Research, Applied ML, Infra Engineering, Technical Product, GTM) so we can move with speed when headcount opens. - Improve research infrastructure. - Refine our workflows, tooling, documentation, and data hygiene. We operate in Ashby and modern sourcing tools- but the system only scales if the underlying thinking is sharp. - Move fast with quality. - Within days of a role intake, deliver structured longlists, org breakdowns, and competitive snapshots to accelerate calibration and outreach. WHAT YOU BRING - 5+ years in talent research, executive search, or high-complexity sourcing with a strong analytical component. - Proven ability to build org charts and talent maps across technical domains- ideally within AI, ML infrastructure, speech, or other frontier technologies. - Fluency in sourcing and research tools (LinkedIn Recruiter, LinkedIn Insights, data tools, structured spreadsheets, and ATS workflows). Bonus if you enjoy systematizing messy inputs. - An analytical mindset. You don’t just collect names- you synthesize patterns and generate insight. - Strong written communication. Most of our collaboration is async. Your output needs to be crisp, structured, and easy to act on. - Comfort operating in ambiguity. Deepgram is high-velocity and iterative. NICE TO HAVE - Bonus if you’ve mapped talent in: - AI/ML research labs - Speech or audio ML - Developer infrastructure - Usage-based SaaS companies - High-growth technical startups BENEFITS & PERKS* HOLISTIC HEALTH - Medical, dental, vision benefits - Annual wellness stipend - Mental health support - Life, STD, LTD Income Insurance Plans WORK/LIFE BLEND - Unlimited PTO - Generous paid parental leave - Flexible schedule - 12 Paid US company holidays - Quarterly personal productivity stipend - One-time stipend for home office upgrades - 401(k) plan with company match - Tax Savings Programs CONTINUOUS LEARNING - Learning / Education stipend - Participation in talks and conferences - Employee Resource Groups - AI enablement workshops / sessions *For candidates outside of the US, we use an Employer of Record model in many countries, which means benefits are administered locally and governed by country-specific regulations. Because of this, benefits will differ by region — in some cases international employees receive benefits US employees do not, and vice versa. As we scale, we will continue to evaluate where we can create more alignment, but a 1:1 global benefits structure is not always legally or operationally possible. Backed by prominent investors including Y Combinator, Madrona, Tiger Global, Wing VC and NVIDIA, Deepgram has raised over $215M in total funding. If you're looking to work on cutting-edge technology and make a significant impact in the AI industry, we'd love to hear from you! Deepgram is an equal opportunity employer. We want all voices and perspectives represented in our workforce. We are a curious bunch focused on collaboration and doing the right thing. We put our customers first, grow together and move quickly. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We are happy to provide accommodations for applicants who need them.