Application Guide

How to Apply for Solutions Engineer, Partnerships

at Firstprinciples

🏢 About Firstprinciples

FirstPrinciples is a non-profit building AI infrastructure for fundamental science, with projects like Theo the AI Physicist. It offers a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of AI and scientific discovery, solving undefined problems in a remote-first, intellectually curious team spanning multiple countries.

About This Role

This role drives the full lifecycle of external partnerships—identifying, landing, and operationalizing collaborations with AI labs, infrastructure providers, and research institutions. You'll combine business development with deep technical understanding to enable the AI systems that accelerate scientific discovery.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start your day with async updates from the engineering team on Theo's technical needs, then research potential partners in AI infrastructure. Midday, you might have a call with a research institution to discuss a collaboration, followed by drafting a partnership proposal. Afternoon is for internal syncs and iterating on outreach strategy based on feedback.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Firstprinciples Is Looking For

  • Has a strong technical background in AI/ML or physics, enough to communicate credibly with research partners and understand technical requirements.
  • Proven experience in business development or partnerships within AI, tech, or research organizations, with a track record of closing deals.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and iterative processes, able to navigate undefined problems and adapt strategies as projects evolve.
  • Excellent communication and project management skills, capable of coordinating across internal teams and external stakeholders remotely.

📝 Tips for Applying to Firstprinciples

1

Highlight specific partnerships you've closed in AI or scientific research, including deal size and impact.

2

Showcase your technical depth—mention familiarity with AI systems, physics concepts, or scientific workflows.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize end-to-end partnership lifecycle experience, not just BD or tech in isolation.

4

Include a brief note on why you're drawn to non-profit science missions, not just the AI aspect.

5

Use concrete examples of how you've handled ambiguity or shifted strategy in past partnership roles.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for fundamental science and AI's role in discovery, referencing FirstPrinciples' mission.", "Specific examples of partnerships you've built that required both technical and business acumen.", 'How you approach undefined problems and iterate on partnership strategies in fast-changing environments.', 'Your ability to work remotely and across time zones, with examples of coordinating global teams.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Theo, the AI Physicist, and its current capabilities and research areas.
  • → Understand FirstPrinciples' funding model as a non-profit and how partnerships support their mission.
  • → Review their team page and any published blog posts or papers to grasp their culture and approach.
  • → Look into the key AI labs, infrastructure providers, and research institutions they might partner with.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a partnership you built from scratch—how did you identify, pitch, and close it?
2 How would you evaluate a potential partner's technical capabilities for a project like Theo?
3 Explain a time you had to pivot a partnership strategy due to changing priorities or feedback.
4 What scientific or AI trends do you think will impact our partnership needs in the next 2 years?
5 How do you manage multiple external relationships while keeping internal stakeholders aligned?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on business development without showing technical understanding of AI/physics.
  • Using generic partnership examples not related to AI, science, or research institutions.
  • Ignoring the non-profit aspect—don't emphasize profit-driven motives; align with mission-driven work.

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Firstprinciples!

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