Head of Research

About Valency Valency Systems is a small, dynamic team of engineers, scientists, and researchers building the global hub for the agentic research era. We're based in Berkeley, California, and we're building something that matters. If you care about open science, advancing research at the speed of thought, and using AI to accelerate discovery, we'd love to talk. Our team is hybrid. We come together in person 3 days a week, with the option for 2 days of remote work. The Position As our Head of Research, with a PhD or advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field, you will set the research agenda, shaping how and what we build, and directly influencing the trajectory of the product. This role reports directly to the CEO. You'll be hands-on, collaborating with engineering and product leadership to make sure we're solving the right problems before we build the wrong things. If you thrive in a small, fast-moving environment where deep technical research has direct and immediate impact, this role was built for you. What You'll Do Set and drive the research agenda Define the research roadmap, prioritizing work that reduces technical risk and accelerates deliveryAnticipate hard problems before they become expensive ones — running ahead of the engineering team to validate approaches and surface unknowns earlyEstablish research practices and standards that will scale as the team grows Deep technical contribution Leverage graph database, algorithm, and recsys knowledge to tackle complex data representation and retrieval challengesDrive measurable improvements in system efficiency and operational cost through research-led optimizationApply expertise in large-scale ML systems to improve model performance, system efficiency, and cost at scale Cross-functional leadership Be a true partner to the Head of Engineering and Head of Science — not a hand-off relationship, but a tight collaborative loopWork in close alignment with those in product and customer-facing roles to maintain methodological rigor across research outputTranslate complex research findings into clear, actionable guidance for engineers and non-technical stakeholders alike People & culture Manage and mentor (world class) junior researchersContribute to building a culture where curiosity, rigor, and pragmatism coexist Required What We're Looking For PhD or advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, or a related fieldStrong command of graph databases and graph algorithmsA track record of running independent research programs and turning findings into engineering decisions — not just papersComfortable operating with autonomy in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment Preferred Experience with bibliometrics and/or research evaluation methodologies — this is a meaningful plus given our domainRecord of academic publicationsHands-on experience designing and deploying large-scale ML systems in productionFamiliarity with cost modeling and performance benchmarking for ML infrastructure Why This Role You'll have real influence over how a technically ambitious company thinks and builds. This is a founding-team-adjacent position — the research infrastructure you establish will define how we operate for years to come. Compensation, Benefits & Equity We offer a competitive salary, benefits, and meaningful equity in a company building something important from the ground up. Work Authorization: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.