Principal Applied Research Engineer

Principal Applied Research Engineer  
About Physna  
Physna is redefining how software connects to the physical world. Our core IP in geometric search transforms 3D models  
into data that can be searched, compared, and reasoned over. We are building the intelligence layer for physical parts:  
enabling engineers, manufacturers, and procurement teams to understand geometry, relationships, and real-world  
constraints at scale.  
Backed by Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global, Physna operates at the intersection of applied research, production systems,  
and industrial workflows. We tackle problems that sit squarely between theory and practice, and turn them into durable  
product capabilities.  
What You’ll Do  
As a Principal Applied Research Engineer, you will lead the translation of advanced research ideas into production-ready  
systems that power Physna’s core products and future platforms. This is a senior, high-impact role that blends deep  
technical research, systems thinking, and product judgment.  
You will operate as a research leader embedded in engineering—setting direction, de-risking novel approaches, and  
ensuring that new capabilities move from concept → prototype → scalable product.  
Your work will include:  
● Defining and driving applied research initiatives across geometry processing, similarity search, embeddings,  
knowledge representations, and AI-assisted reasoning over physical parts.  
● Owning the full lifecycle of research outcomes: from exploration and experimentation through validation,  
productionization, and long-term maintenance.  
● Partnering closely with cross-functional leaders to align research bets with business and customer impact.  
● Designing evaluation frameworks, benchmarks, and metrics to measure research quality, performance, and  
real-world value.  
● Leading technical reviews for research-heavy initiatives and influencing architectural decisions across teams.  
● Mentoring senior engineers and applied researchers, setting standards for rigor, clarity, and execution.  
● Acting as a technical advisor to leadership on feasibility, tradeoffs, and timelines for research-driven capabilities.  
This role offers significant autonomy and agency. You will be trusted to identify the right problems to solve, not just  
implement predefined solutions. With that freedom comes responsibility: we expect clear thinking, strong  
communication, and a bias toward shipping research that matters.
What We’ll Expect from You  
● 5+ years of experience in applied research, advanced engineering, or research-driven product development.  
● Strong background in one or more of the following: geometric algorithms, similarity search, information  
retrieval, computer vision, ML systems, or applied AI.  
● Proven ability to take ambiguous research problems and turn them into practical, scalable solutions.  
● Experience building prototypes and carrying successful ideas into production systems.  
● Experience with modern AI/LLM tooling and how to integrate it responsibly into research and engineering  
workflows.  
● Fluency in one or more production languages such as Python, C++, Typescript/Node.js, Go, or similar.  
● Strong systems thinking: understanding how research choices affect performance, reliability, cost, and developer  
experience.  
● Excellent communication skills. Able to explain complex ideas clearly to engineering, product, and executive  
audiences.  
● A product mindset: prioritizing impact, usability, and long-term value over novelty alone.  
● Masters or PhD. degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.  
● This role may require obtaining a U.S. government security clearance in the future. Candidates must be legally  
authorized to work in the United States and eligible to obtain such clearance.  
Nice to Have  
● Experience working with 3D geometry, CAD data, meshes, point clouds, or spatial representations.  
● Background in industrial, manufacturing, or supply-chain problem domains.  
● Experience operating in startup or scale-up environments where research must move quickly into production.  
● Prior experience setting research direction or technical vision across multiple teams.  
Why You’ll Like Working for Us  
We care about your physical, financial and mental well-being. We cover health, dental and vision insurance premiums  
at 100% for the family. We believe in competitive and fair compensation, offer a 401(k), provide a generous holiday and  
PTO schedule, and each team member receives a professional development budget.  
We care about our culture. We believe in diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging. We treat each other with kindness and  
respect. We are a culture of innovation, transparency, accountability, failing fast and learning quickly.