AI Rust Engineer
Zed Industries
Zed is a next-generation code editor that's engineered from scratch in Rust to be fast, elegant, and collaborative. As we extend Zed with AI capabilities, we're looking for engineers with a strong AI background to form a new AI Foundations team.
Your role will be to optimize Zed's interaction with language models through rapid prototyping and rigorous evaluation. Using Python or another lightweight scripting language, you'll explore the frontier of model capabilities and validate approaches before we sink time into implementing production-grade features. You'll collaborate with the whole Zed team to envision new AI capabilities, then take ownership over the prompts, fine-tuning, and dataflow while Rust engineers focus on editor integration.
This role offers a unique opportunity to combine your AI expertise with a team that excels at crafting world-class user interfaces for code. At Zed, if you can envision an AI-powered coding interface, our team can bring it to life. Your innovations will push the boundaries of what's possible in code editing, transforming how developers interact with AI in their daily work.
Key Responsibilities
Own and shape the AI experience in Zed
Lead the evaluation, selection, and fine-tuning of language models for coding-specific tasks
Design and implement data collection strategies to improve model performance
Develop prompting strategies and evaluation frameworks
Create and maintain testing methodologies for AI features
Work closely with the engineering team to bring AI capabilities to production
Share AI expertise across the team through mentorship and knowledge sharing
Stay current with AI research and identify new opportunities for application
Participate in regular pair programming sessions and code reviews
Requirements
Strong background in machine learning and natural language processing
Extensive experience working with large language models, including prompt engineering and fine-tuning
Proficiency in Python and AI/ML frameworks
Experience developing AI agents and working with agentic control flow frameworks
Ability to design and implement reliable, production-grade AI systems using rigorous, repeatable processes
Track record of deploying AI in production environments
Ability to self-direct and lead strategic vision for AI initiatives
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams
Passion for developer tools and improving the coding experience
Proficiency in Rust
Enthusiasm for pair programming and real-time collaboration
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with code analysis or generation using AI
Background in developer tools
Location: Remote (American or European time zones) or Boulder, Colorado