About the role

We are looking for exceptional individuals to build the innovative bridge that will lead to the next breakthrough in the world of AI: the link between AI and formal methods. With this bridge, we are developing new LLMs that do not hallucinate, are completely transparent, and consume a fraction of the costs of current LLMs.

As an engineer with a strong background in formal methods, your position will be intrinsically linked to the company's R&D. At Formel AI, your role will be to participate in the development of new innovative methods at the intersection of the two areas of interest.

Key responsibilities

- Develop product features: Build and ship production-grade features for our platform, working across the full stack from backend APIs to UI prototypes using Python
- Bridge theory and practice: Translate cutting-edge research in formal methods and AI into production-grade systems, acting as the reference on complex technical concepts in the team
- Stay at the forefront of AI and formal methods: Monitor cutting-edge research in both AI and formal verification, identifying emerging techniques and tools that could enhance our systems
- Drive research innovation: Actively shape the company's research roadmap, exploring new leads in applied formal verification in collaboration with our scientific advisory board

What we are looking for

Essential qualities

- Curious and scientific: You're passionate about exploring the intersection of AI and formal methods, with a research-driven mindset that constantly questions and seeks to push boundaries
- High technical skills: You can autonomously design, implement, and deploy production-grade systems that integrate formal verification with AI, from prototyping to production
- High theoretical skills in formal methods : You have deep expertise in formal verification, theorem proving, and SMT solving, with the ability to apply these concepts to real-world problems
- Impact driven: You excel at translating cutting-edge research into practical implementations that deliver measurable value, always keeping real-world applicability at the forefront
- Bridge builder: You thrive at building interdisciplinary bridges

Background

- Advanced degree in formal methods or related field: PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related discipline with focus on formal verification, theorem proving, or program analysis
- 3+ years of experience: Substantial professional or research experience applying formal methods to complex systems
- Industry or academic research: Experience in either industrial R&D labs or academic research groups working on formal verification tools and techniques
- Track record of end-to-end product development: Proven experience taking formal methods projects from research concept through implementation to production deployment

Required skills

- Applied formal methods expertise: Demonstrated track record of applying formal verification techniques to real-world problems
- Theorem proving experience: Hands-on experience with at least one interactive theorem prover (e.g., Rocq, Isabelle/HOL, Lean, or similar)
- SMT solver knowledge: Strong understanding of SMT solver fundamentals and their practical applications
- Team-based product development: Experience collaborating in a team environment to build and ship production software
- Formal software development: Proven experience developing formally verified software or integrating formal methods into software development workflows

Nice-to-have

- Python proficiency: Strong programming skills in Python for rapid prototyping and integration
- OCaml experience: Familiarity with OCaml or other functional programming languages
- LLMs knowledge: Understanding of LLMs from both theoretical and practical perspectives

Benefits

- Financial & perks
   - Competitive cash salary and equity (BSPCE) in a high-potential company.
   - Health insurance (Alan) for you and your family (partner and kids).
   - Daily lunch vouchers (Swile).
   - Hybrid work model with a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration (typically 3-4 days per week at the office) to foster team cohesion, spontaneous discussions, and deep work together.
- What makes this role unique:
   - Founding team impact: Join as one of the first employees and shape the trajectory of a moonshot deep-tech company.
   - Mission-driven startup: Help solve the key pressing challenges of AI—the most transformative technology of our era—ensuring LLMs are trustworthy, transparent, and cost-effective, with direct benefits for environmental sustainability.
   - Work with cutting-edge technology: Build systems that combine LLMs with formal verification—an emerging field at the forefront of AI safety and reliability where breakthrough developments happen every week.
   - World-class team: Collaborate with a scientific advisory board from leading institutions (Ecole polytechnique, ENS Paris-Saclay, etc) and experienced business angels from top tech companies (Datadog, Dataiku, Nabla, Artefact, and more).
   - Strategic customers: Work with leading companies in healthcare, enterprise software, and other mission-critical domains.
   - Flexibility of an early-stage startup: Autonomy to define how you work and what you prioritize.

Hiring process

1. Apply and submit your resume using this [Google Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvLZeeEiMlhtFWlmd2lbaQ9ghPhYw3r0nSRVHZeJb2LJVKBw/viewform?usp=header)
2. Screening call (30 min): A quick chat with the CTO to align on vision and expectations.
3. In-depth technical discussion (home exercise followed by a **60 min** discussion)**:** Best way to decide if we are a great fit as potential collaborators.
4. Technical deep-dive (60 min): A focus on your proficiency with the tools you will use.
5. Founder interview (45 min): Final discussion on strategy, culture fit, and your long-term evolution within the company, with the CTO and CEO.