Research Engineer II

Summary

Join Pindrop, a leading innovator in voice authentication and deepfake detection, and contribute to creating a safer digital landscape. As a Security Researcher, you will design and execute adversarial attacks on deepfake detection models, develop evasion techniques, conduct red teaming exercises, and collaborate with machine learning engineers. You will also document findings, communicate with stakeholders, stay current on research, and participate in team meetings. This role requires a passion for technology, strong problem-solving skills, and experience in deep learning and adversarial machine learning. Pindrop offers a dynamic workplace, competitive compensation, unlimited PTO, and various other benefits.

Requirements

• You have a passion for technology and are constantly researching new/emerging solutions
• You are self-motivated and work with minimal supervision
• You make relevant, specific, and high-value recommendations for the design or implementation of a platform, including automation, features, security, and manageability
• You are resilient in the face of challenges, change, and ambiguity
• You are optimistic and believe that you can turn a problem into a solution
• You are resourceful, excited to uncover innovative solutions, and teach yourself something new when needed
• You take accountability, do the things you say you’ll do, under-promise and over-deliver
• You are nimble and adaptable when priorities change and continue to see the “forest through the trees”
• 3+ years of Experience in Deep Learning, ideally in speech processing, computer vision, face recognition, deepfake detection, audio processing, or general machine learning
• Strong understanding of adversarial machine learning techniques, including evasion attacks, poisoning attacks, and model inversion
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think like an adversary
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to a diverse audience
• Deep understanding of deepfake technologies, synthetic audio, and video generation
• Experience with real-time audio and video processing and data acquisition, as well as preparation for such tasks
• Strong programming skills in Python. Experience with ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch
• Ability to design, develop, and maintain research packages to assess vulnerabilities of ML models

Responsibilities

• Design and execute adversarial attack campaigns targeting deepfake detection models to assess their resilience
• Develop novel techniques for evading detection, including adversarial audio and video, voice cloning, synthetic speech generation, and face swapping
• Conduct red teaming exercises to identify weaknesses, data biases, and model blind spots
• Collaborate with machine learning engineers and researchers to develop countermeasures and improve detection algorithms
• Use threat intelligence to anticipate emerging deepfake methods and adjust testing strategies accordingly
• Document and communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, providing actionable recommendations for risk mitigation
• Stay current with the latest research in adversarial machine learning, synthetic media, and AI security
• Participate in cross-functional team meetings and provide insights based on research findings

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferably PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence) or equivalent experience
• Ability to publish peer-reviewed papers in top computer vision, audio and speech, and conferences

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including equity for all employees
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 4 company-wide rest days in 2025 where the entire company rests and recharges!
• Generous health and welfare plans to choose from - including one employer-paid “employee-only” plan!
• Best-in-class Health Savings Account (HSA) employer contribution
• Affordable vision and dental plans for you and your family
• Employer-provided life and disability coverage with additional supplemental options
• Paid Parental Leave - Equal for all parents, including birth, adoptive & foster parents
• One year of diaper delivery for your newest addition to the family! It’s our way of welcoming new Pindroplets to the family!
• Identity protection through Norton LifeLock
• Recurring monthly Phone and Internet allowance
• One-time home office allowance
• Remote first environment – meaning you have flexibility in your day!
• Company holidays
• Annual professional development and learning benefit
• Pick your own Apple MacBook Pro
• Retirement plan with competitive 401(k) match
• Wellness Program including Employee Assistance Program, 24/7 Telemedicine