Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior AI Engineer
at Recursion
🏢 About Recursion
Recursion is a biotechnology company that uses AI and machine learning to accelerate drug discovery by mapping complex biological data at scale. Their unique approach combines automated wet-lab experiments with computational analysis to decode biology and identify new therapeutic candidates faster than traditional methods. Working here means contributing to cutting-edge science that could transform medicine while building sophisticated AI systems.
About This Role
This Senior AI Engineer role focuses on architecting multi-agent orchestration frameworks and internal developer platforms specifically for scientific workflows at Recursion. You'll be responsible for creating self-healing, autonomous systems that handle complex biological data processing with built-in security and governance. The impact lies in enabling faster, more reliable drug discovery pipelines through robust AI infrastructure.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves designing and implementing components of multi-agent orchestration frameworks that autonomously handle scientific workflows, collaborating with research scientists to understand their AI infrastructure needs, and building internal developer tools that standardize agent deployment with security controls. You'll spend time establishing observability standards to monitor and debug complex AI behaviors in drug discovery pipelines.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Recursion Is Looking For
- Has 7+ years building distributed systems and production AI platforms, with specific experience in scientific or research computing environments
- Demonstrates deep expertise in GenAI stack implementation including advanced RAG strategies and vector store architecture for scientific data
- Shows proven ability to design secure API middleware for AI agent integration in regulated environments
- Has experience establishing observability standards (LLMOps) for debugging non-deterministic AI behaviors in complex workflows
📝 Tips for Applying to Recursion
Highlight specific examples of multi-agent orchestration frameworks you've built, especially those handling scientific or business workflows
Demonstrate your experience with infrastructure-as-code and self-healing systems in your resume's project descriptions
Prepare concrete examples of how you've implemented security and governance in AI agent deployments
Show your understanding of Recursion's specific domain by mentioning how your AI experience could accelerate drug discovery
Include metrics showing how your previous AI platforms improved reliability or reduced human intervention in workflows
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience architecting production-grade AI solutions for scientific or research applications', 'Specific examples of building internal developer platforms with security and governance for AI deployment', "How you've established observability standards to debug non-deterministic AI behaviors in previous roles", 'Your approach to designing middleware strategies for secure AI agent integration in complex systems']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Recursion's OS platform and how they map biological data using AI (review their technical publications and blog posts)
- → Their specific drug discovery pipeline and where AI agents might accelerate different stages
- → Their technology stack mentions in job descriptions and recent engineering blog content
- → Their approach to data security and governance given they work with sensitive biological data
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on model development without demonstrating platform engineering and distributed systems experience
- Presenting generic AI experience without specific examples of production-grade deployment and orchestration
- Neglecting to address security and governance aspects of AI agent deployment in your application materials
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!