Research Engineer

Youll build the evaluation systems that tell us whether Firecrawl actually works. That sounds simple. It isnt. Our core promise convert any URL into clean structured LLM-ready data reliably is hard to measure rigorously across millions of different websites formats and edge cases. As the systems were measuring get more complex the question did that work gets harder not easier.

This isnt an eval role where you inherit a framework and run benchmarks. Youll design the metrics build the pipelines generate the datasets and own the feedback loop from output quality back to model and product decisions. If you care about what good actually means and have the engineering depth to measure it this is the role.

Salary Range: $210000$275000/year (Range shown is for U.S.-based employees in San Francisco CA. Compensation outside the U.S. is adjusted fairly based on your countrys cost of living.)

Equity Range: Competitive equity details shared during the process.

Location: San Francisco CA (Hybrid on-site required)

Job Type: Full-Time

Experience: 4 years in ML research engineering or data-heavy backend with real evaluation work

Visa: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Were not able to sponsor visas right now though that may change down the line.

About Firecrawl

Firecrawl is the easiest way to turn the web into data AI agents can use. One API call converts any URL into clean LLM-ready markdown or structured data - the boring-hard problem everyone building with LLMs eventually hits solved.

We hit 8 figures in ARR in year one and more than doubled it in year two. We have 147k GitHub stars and developers agents and category-defining AI companies build on us every day. Growth like this is rare and were just getting started.

Were a small team punching far above our weight. Everyone here owns a real piece of the product and company end to end and runs it themselves - no hiding behind process or headcount.

This is a place for people who want to work at the frontier: an AI company building the infrastructure other AI companies run on not one bolting AI onto an existing product. We move fast go deep and are building the tools superintelligence will rely on to gather data from the web.

What Youll Do

• Design the metrics that define what good output actually means across millions of sites formats and edge cases

• Build the pipelines and harnesses that measure quality rigorously and at scale

• Generate and curate the datasets that make evaluation trustworthy

• Own the feedback loop from output quality back to model and product decisions

• Turn did that work into an answer the whole team can act on

What Were Looking For

• You have the engineering depth to build real evaluation systems not just run existing ones

• You care deeply about what good means and how to measure it rigorously

• Youre comfortable owning ambiguous problems where the metric itself has to be invented

• You move fast and close the loop - youd rather ship measure and iterate than perfect on paper

What Were NOT Looking For

• Someone who only wants to run benchmarks someone else designed

• A pure researcher who wont build the systems or a pure engineer who wont think about methodology

• Someone who needs a fully-specced ticket to start

A Note On Pace

We operate at an absurd level of urgency because the window for what were building wont stay open forever. If that excites you keep reading. If it doesnt no hard feelings but this role probably isnt for you.

Benefits & Perks

Available to all employees

• Salary that makes sense $210000-$275000/year (U.S.-based) based on impact not tenure

• Own a piece Gain competitive equity in what youre helping build

• Generous PTO 15 days mandatory anything after 24 days just ask (holidays excluded); take the time you need to recharge

• Parental leave 12 weeks fully paid for all parents

• Wellness stipend $100/month for the gym therapy massages or whatever keeps you human

• Learning & Development Expense up to $1000/year toward anything that helps you grow professionally

• Team offsites A change of scenery minus the trust falls

• Sabbatical 3 paid months off after 4 years do something fun and new

Available to US-based full-time employees

• Full coverage no red tape Medical dental and vision (100% for employees 50% for spouse/kids) no weird loopholes just care that works

• Life & Disability insurance Employer-paid short-term disability long-term disability and life insurance coverage for lifes curveballs

• Supplemental options Optional accident critical illness hospital indemnity and voluntary life insurance for extra peace of mind

• Doctegrity telehealth Talk to a doctor from your couch

• 401(k) plan Retirement might be a ways off but future-you will thank you

• Pre-tax benefits Access to FSAs and commuter benefits to help your wallet out a bit

• Pet insurance Because fur babies are family too

Available to SF-based employees

• SF HQ perks Snacks drinks team lunches intense ping pong and peak startup energy

• E-Bike transportation A loaner electric bike to get you around the city on us

Interview Process

1. Application Review Send us your work and a quick note on why this excites you. Show us what youve built eval systems metrics you designed datasets you created quality problems you measured. We care about what youve shipped not where you went to school.

2. Intro Chat (25 min) A quick conversation to get to know each other before we go deep. Well talk about what youve been working on what drew you to Firecrawl and what youre looking for in your next role. Time for your questions too.

3. Technical Chat (45 min) Well dig into a real problem from our world how youd measure whether messy web output is actually good and build the system to prove it. Come ready to think out loud; we care how you reason not whether you memorized the answer.

4. Founder Chat (25 min) Culture pace ownership and how you like to work. Time for your questions too.

5. Paid Work Trial (1-2 weeks) Work with the team on a real scoped evaluation problem paid at a contractor rate. Its the truest signal for both sides: you see what building at Firecrawl actually feels like and we see how you ship. Remote-friendly and well flex around your current commitments.

6. Decision We move fast after the trial.

If you care about what good actually means and have the engineering depth to measure it you should join us.

Apply now.

Required Experience:

IC