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Next Step Systems

Executive IT recruitment for permanent roles

Vice President of Research

Full-Time
$225k - $275k/yr
Expert
San Francisco, CA, USA
Remote
AI & Machine LearningAI Research

About the job

Requirements
  • Deep experience building or evolving real Machine Learning systems used in production.
  • Artificial Intelligence experience.
  • Strong technical judgment around model behavior, failure modes, and long-horizon trade-offs.
  • A builder’s mindset focused on systems that work in the real world, not just ideas.
  • Comfort making irreversible or high-impact decisions with incomplete information.
  • Strong focus on evaluation, correctness, and how systems behave over time.
  • High ownership mentality and ability to operate as a founder rather than a manager.
  • Experience with GPU-based training and inference systems, JAX, Python, and PyTorch.
  • Willingness to complete a 60-minute coding assessment.
Responsibilities
  • Set and evolve the research direction for core intelligence, including context representation, memory, reasoning, planning, and orchestration.
  • Decide when to design new model architectures versus adapting or leveraging frontier open-source or commercial models.
  • Define evaluation frameworks that measure real-world usefulness, robustness, safety, and long-term behavior rather than benchmark vanity.
  • Own alignment, safety, and guardrail strategy as first-class product concerns.
  • Guide exploration of frontier techniques such as retrieval-augmented training, mixture-of-experts, distillation, multi-agent orchestration, and multimodal systems.
  • Shape early product intelligence direction in close partnership with product and application engineering.
  • Set the technical bar for research rigor, judgment, and taste across the organization.

About the company

Next Step Systems focuses on matching information technology professionals with permanent, full-time jobs across the United States. It covers a wide range of IT areas including software, hardware, networking, storage, database, web, sales, and IT management, and handles roles at all levels. The process involves recruiting, screening, and placing qualified candidates with employer clients, providing end-to-end staffing support. The firm differentiates itself through a long track record (since 1995) and strategic growth, notably the 2014 acquisition of Parallel Partners to broaden its ability to serve both company clients and job seekers. Its goal is to deliver quality, professional service that connects employers with top IT talent and helps candidates find lasting careers.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

null

Founded

1995

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The website was updated October 1, 2026, signaling active business development.
  • Its August 3, 2026 blog celebrated 31 years, showing durable market presence.
  • Recent July 2026 posts advertised AI, NetSuite, and engineering roles across multiple geographies.

What critics are saying

  • LinkedIn lists only 1-10 employees, making revenue dependent on a tiny team.
  • The firm still relies on recruiting fees, so client hiring freezes hit immediately.
  • If enterprise clients internalize AI sourcing, Next Step Systems loses its core fee stream.

What makes Next Step Systems unique

  • Since 1995, Next Step Systems has specialized solely in permanent IT recruiting.
  • Its 2026 website markets AI, cloud, data, and cybersecurity placements nationwide.
  • The firm spans Chicago, Cleveland, and other metro pages for hyperlocal candidate sourcing.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Remote Work Options
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Phone/Internet Stipend
  • Tuition Reimbursement