AI/Machine Learning Engineer

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.