About AfterQuery
AfterQuery is an applied research lab curating data solutions for foundation model development. We serve every frontier AI lab with the mission of delivering the best data to power the best models. In doing so, we can make expertise that once took a lifetime to build available to anyone who needs it.
Our customers are the ones building the foundation models themselves and our work sits directly in the loop of how those systems improve. This is a rare opportunity to join a company at a defining moment in AI. Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation. We're based in San Francisco and backed by leading investors including Altos Ventures, BoxGroup, and Y Combinator and angels from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta Superintelligence Labs, and Microsoft AI.
Why Apply
Massive Opportunity: Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation, and we're not slowing down.
Founding Impact: You will own and architect core infrastructure systems that power our platform from the ground up.
Equity & Growth: Competitive salary and meaningful equity. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the engineering organization and lead major technical initiatives.
Strong Team: Our founding team has experience from Citadel Securities, Meta, Google, Silver Lake, and Morgan Stanley — work alongside world-class engineers and researchers.
AfterQuery is seeking exceptional undergraduate and masters students for our AI/ML Research Internship program. This is not a typical internship – you'll work directly with our research team on cutting-edge AI projects focused on advanced reasoning, computer use, and agentic models. You'll have access to our network of experts and specialized datasets to support your research contributions. Successful interns will have the opportunity to co-author research papers, gain invaluable experience with frontier AI systems, and potentially present work at leading AI conferences. Students enrolled in undergraduate or masters programs in relevant fields are welcome to apply. This job will demand between 10 and 40 hours per week depending on company needs.
Company Overview
AfterQuery is a research lab investigating the boundaries and capabilities of artificial intelligence through novel datasets and experimentation. Our customers are the foundation model labs, and we serve all of the frontier AI labs.
We are based in San Francisco, CA, and have raised funding from top investors, including Y Combinator and BoxGroup, ex-partners from Lightspeed and Index Ventures, and senior leadership at Google DeepMind and Meta GenAI.
Our founding team brings backgrounds from Jane Street, Meta, Citadel Securities, Google, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Silver Lake, Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR), and Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL).
Why Apply
Contribute to cutting-edge AI research
Co-author papers for top AI conferences
Access specialized datasets and computational resources
Develop highly sought-after industry and academic skills
Join one of the fastest growing YC startups
Work with AfterQuery’s founding team (Citadel Securities, Meta, Google, Silver Lake, Morgan Stanley)
Responsibilities
Support research scientists in designing and running experiments
Collect, process, and analyze proprietary datasets
Help develop and test new algorithms for advanced reasoning and agents
Contribute to research documentation and findings
Participate in research discussions and present findings
Collaborate on interdisciplinary projects with interns and researchers
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in AI, ML, or related research projects
Familiarity with large language models and reinforcement learning
Knowledge of NLP or multi-modal systems
Previous research experience or publications
Strong communication skills; able to explain complex concepts
Experience with data visualization and analysis tools
Company Benefits (For Eligible Employees):
Health Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental
401(k) with Employer Match
Daily Meals: Daily UberEats Stipend
Monthly Wellness Stipend
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.
We comply with applicable pay transparency requirements and provide compensation ranges based on the position, qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. We reserve the right to modify this job description as business needs change.