Research Manager Jobs in San Francisco, CA

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data + AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 60% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Lakehouse Platform to unify their data, analytics, and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe.

About The Team

The Databricks AI Research organization is pushing the frontier of next-generation enterprise AI. We believe a company's data is its greatest competitive advantage, and we're building the models and agents that unlock it. Our work spans the full stack, from model training to advanced multi-agent systems. The Data Agent team within AI Research is dedicated to pioneering frontier enterprise data agents. Our research focuses on developing agents capable of autonomous planning, code generation, and multi-step workflow execution within intricate enterprise settings. The team's primary technical pillars include post-training enhancements, harness design, agentic reinforcement learning (RL), and the construction of specialized RL environments. As a member of this team, you will bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and product development by shipping direct improvements to Genie, Databricks' agent product that provides significant value to our user base.

The impact you will have

- Develop the best post-training recipes to train enterprise Data agents, that are capable of autonomous planning, code generation, and multi-step workflow execution within intricate enterprise settings.
- Partner closely with product teams to turn prototypes and research ideas into the best agentic experience for Databricks users.
- Build systems that help the agent discover and use relevant lakehouse context, including tables, notebooks, code, and cell outputs, to produce more accurate and useful results.
- Raise the technical bar for the team through strong design, execution, debugging, and mentorship, helping shape the long-term direction of agentic experiences at Databricks.

What We Look For

- BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or a related field.
- 2+ years of experience in an applied research environment, with a track record of shipping research prototypes to production.
- Experience in LLMs, agents, reinforcement learning, post-training workflows.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving environment that blends research exploration with product and engineering rigor.
- Clear communication and strong cross-functional collaboration with researchers, engineers, and product stakeholders.

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here. Local Pay Range $190,000—$270,000 USD.

Benefits

At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.