Machine Learning Engineering Internship

About Recursive

As the world's population grows, we are facing a number of global challenges in the realms of environmental conservation, societal equity and ensuring that nobody is left behind in the transition to a digital economy. Artificial intelligence is a key technology to not only address some symptoms of these issues, but also helping create completely new innovative approaches that can create a more sustainable economy and lifestyle.

Recursive is an Applied AI consulting company based in Japan working on developing solutions to some of these challenging problems. We collaborate with large Japanese enterprises to create innovative solutions to sustainability challenges, merging in our expertise in AI research and our client's domain knowledge. Our development projects focus around the main themes of improving efficiency, accelerating innovation, risk mitigation and better work and education.

Recursive is founded by Tiago Ramalho and Katsutoshi Yamada in 2020. Tiago was a Senior Research Engineer at Google Deepmind and Lead Research scientist at Cogent labs and brings years of machine learning expertise to the company. Katsutoshi is a serial entrepreneur and AI expert with experience in developing and establishing innovative business models in Japan and abroad.

Building on its previous successes, Recursive is now looking to grow and expand its impact further. Visit our homepage to learn more about Recursive.

Recursive's Mission

At Recursive, our mission is to attract individuals who share our passion for our core purpose : to create a fairer, more sustainable society through the power of Artificial Intelligence.

Our Mission :

Why :   To build a fairer, more sustainable society.

How :   By transforming our clients into AI-first businesses.

What :   Through AI technology development and consulting.

In pursuit of this mission, Recursive has distinguished itself in several key areas :

Cutting-Edge AI Application :  We excel in translating state-of-the-art AI research into practical applications. This is achieved through strong connections with academic machine learning research, a commitment to understanding client data and requirements, and seamless integration with client businesses.

Generative AI Innovation :  We launched a Generative AI solution to the market just as the field was gaining momentum, having initiated development in early 2022.

Enterprise AI Solutions :  We introduced FindFlow  only six months after ChatGPT's release, enhancing the application of large language models for enterprise use and enabling access to private enterprise data with Generative AI.

Pioneering Environmental AI :  Recursive is the first Japanese company to employ Physics-Inspired Neural Networks for simulating environmental systems . We aim to use these methods to transform environmental management and promote renewable energy adoption. Learn more about this project by watching our presentation at the Google Cloud for Sustainability event.

Recursive's Culture

Ultimately, the value of a company is the result of the collective actions of its passionate members. At Recursive we want to focus on creating an incredible working environment where talented individuals can come together to work hard on solving real-world problems.

When it comes to culture, we know that there is no way to suit everyone's tastes. Almost everyone has a passion, but not all passions align. And the same is true for Recursive.

We aim to build a work environment that is ideal for a particular kind of person :

Challenger Mentality : Those who like to solve hard problems and try to go beyond their current abilities

Leadership : those who take the initiative and fix problems on their own

Trust & Cooperation : those who seek to work with a team of talented individuals they can trust

Impact : those who want to feel like their work is having impact on others / the world Recursive can only work when we take collaboration to be our top priority.

Our workplace has zero tolerance for harassment or toxic behavior, deliberate bad performance, as well as any behaviors that undermine the culture we wish to create. We will only be able to achieve the goals of closing more impactful projects, and achieving “kandou” for the ones we are executing, if all teams come together and collaborate.

We want to use our diversity of cultures and experiences as a strength instead of a weakness. Given that we are still a small company, everyone's actions matter, and we place top priority in ensuring that our culture (i.e. the actions of our members) reflects our values.

That means that it is not enough to simply write down a document with what we believe our culture is, but in a nutshell, actively rewarding behaviors that are consistent with the culture and disincentivizing behaviors that go against the culture that we want to build.

Recursive's Internship Framework

Contract Structure :   Recursive provides 3 to 6 months fixed term contracts for all new interns. The contracts may be converted into employment contracts upon our new interns meeting Recursive standards and proactively apply for a full-time position at Recursive.

Flexible Work Hours : Recursive operates on a flex system with the core hours of 10 : 00 - 16 : 00. The flexible work hours fosters a supportive environment that accommodates diverse needs while ensuring effective team collaboration during core hours. The typical workload for interns is comprised of a reduced schedule, ranging from 15 to 25 hours per week.

Hybrid Work : Experience the best of both worlds with our hybrid work model, offering up to three days of remote work and two days in our Shibuya office. (

• Full-remote internships are possible for Engineering Internships.)

Compensation :   Internships at Recursive are paid on a hourly basis. The compensation is set based on experience and education level.

Social Welfare & Commuting Allowance : Interns may qualify for certain social welfare benefits, contingent upon their work hours. Additionally, all interns receive a commuting allowance for the days they travel to our office.

Visa Support : Due to limited resources, visa sponsorship may not be available. Priority will be given to candidates who already hold a current and valid work visa. Foreign students interested in internships should consult with our hiring team for details.

Machine Learning Engineering Internship

Responsibilities

Run and modify machine learning experiments, contributing to the development and refinement of models.

Analyze experimental results to draw meaningful insights and inform future research directions.

Write detailed experiment reports to document findings and support team knowledge sharing.

Read papers on the latest machine learning research to stay informed about cutting-edge developments.

Test novel algorithms by modifying open-source code or developing new implementations with guidance.

Work closely with team members to support project goals and deliverables, contributing to a collaborative and innovative environment.

Expectations

Demonstrate a strong drive to learn new topics and improve existing methods and processes, showing a commitment to personal and professional growth.

Exhibit analytical and problem-solving abilities to contribute effectively to team projects and experimental challenges.

Communicate ideas and findings clearly to team members, both verbally and in writing.

Be flexible and open to changing priorities and new challenges, quickly adapting to new tools and methodologies.

Show a desire to work on projects that have a positive impact on society and the environment.

Qualifications

Currently pursuing or having a degree in a STEM field, such as Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Computer Science, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering.

Proficient in Python programming, with the ability to modify and develop code for machine learning applications.

Passionate about the latest developments in the AI field, with an interest in applying these advancements to real-world problems.

Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and quality in all aspects of work.

Proficient in English; familiarity with Japanese is a plus.

Interview Process

We aim to make the hiring process smooth and transparent. The typical interview steps are as follows :

1. Take-Home Assignment

2. First Interview

3. Final Interview : With Leadership