At Pika, we are pioneering the next generation of creative infrastructure built around real-time, multimodal generation and intelligent agentic platforms. We are seeking Research Scientists with expertise in RL post-training and generative modeling for large-scale video generation. The focus is on refining Pika's video generation models using RL alignment and building robust video reward models. This is a staff and lead-level opportunity.
As a key member of our research team, you will own RL-based post-training for video diffusion/flow-matching models, develop state-of-the-art reward models, and lead post-training evaluation across human and automated metrics. You will collaborate closely with engineering and product teams, shaping the frontier of real-time creative and agentic video platforms.
RL alignment of Pika's video generation models and the reward models that drive them.
Distillation of RL-tuned models is a secondary focus.
Run RL post-training (preference optimization, online RL against learned rewards) for video diffusion/flow-matching models at multi-node scale.
Build video reward models: define target evaluation dimensions, design/configure preference data collection workflows, train and validate learned judges, and safeguard against reward hacking.
Own post-training evaluation, including human preference studies and their correlation with automated metrics.
Distill RL-tuned models to efficient few-step samplers while preserving alignment gains (secondary focus).
2+ years hands-on research experience in post-training or generative modeling.
RL or preference-optimization experience on generative models with evidence of model improvement.
Strong grounding in diffusion or flow-matching models, PyTorch, and multi-node distributed training.
Experience developing reward models for visual generation, including VLM-as-judge or large-scale preference data collection.
Distillation expertise (distribution matching, consistency, adversarial approaches), ideally for video models.
Familiarity with video-specific failure modes: temporal drift, motion and physics realism.
Competitive salary and substantial equity in a high-growth startup
Full health benefits + 401k matching and more
Collaborative, mission-driven team environment with significant growth opportunities
Flexible on-site/remote hybrid (HQ in Palo Alto, CA)
Pika empowers creators by building state-of-the-art agentic and multimedia platforms. Our vision is to break down technical barriers to creativity, making real-time generative and intelligent orchestration accessible to all. Join us to shape the next evolution of creative technology!
If you are passionate about advancing RL alignment and generative modeling for video, and want to scale real-time multimodal foundation models, we want to hear from you.
","descriptionPlain":"ABOUT THE ROLE\n\n\n\nAt Pika, we are pioneering the next generation of creative infrastructure built around real-time, multimodal generation and intelligent agentic platforms. We are seeking Research Scientists with expertise in RL post-training and generative modeling for large-scale video generation. The focus is on refining Pika's video generation models using RL alignment and building robust video reward models. This is a staff and lead-level opportunity.\n\n \n\nAs a key member of our research team, you will own RL-based post-training for video diffusion/flow-matching models, develop state-of-the-art reward models, and lead post-training evaluation across human and automated metrics. You will collaborate closely with engineering and product teams, shaping the frontier of real-time creative and agentic video platforms.\n\n \n\n\nSCOPE\n\n - RL alignment of Pika's video generation models and the reward models that drive them.\n\n - Distillation of RL-tuned models is a secondary focus.\n\n \n\n\nRESPONSIBILITIES\n\n - Run RL post-training (preference optimization, online RL against learned rewards) for video diffusion/flow-matching models at multi-node scale.\n\n - Build video reward models: define target evaluation dimensions, design/configure preference data collection workflows, train and validate learned judges, and safeguard against reward hacking.\n\n - Own post-training evaluation, including human preference studies and their correlation with automated metrics.\n\n - Distill RL-tuned models to efficient few-step samplers while preserving alignment gains (secondary focus).\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR\n\n\nREQUIRED\n\n - 2+ years hands-on research experience in post-training or generative modeling.\n\n - RL or preference-optimization experience on generative models with evidence of model improvement.\n\n - Strong grounding in diffusion or flow-matching models, PyTorch, and multi-node distributed training.\n\n \n\n\nPREFERRED\n\n - Experience developing reward models for visual generation, including VLM-as-judge or large-scale preference data collection.\n\n - Distillation expertise (distribution matching, consistency, adversarial approaches), ideally for video models.\n\n - Familiarity with video-specific failure modes: temporal drift, motion and physics realism.\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE OFFER\n\n - Competitive salary and substantial equity in a high-growth startup\n\n - Full health benefits + 401k matching and more\n\n - Collaborative, mission-driven team environment with significant growth opportunities\n\n - Flexible on-site/remote hybrid (HQ in Palo Alto, CA)\n\n \n\n\nABOUT PIKA\n\nPika empowers creators by building state-of-the-art agentic and multimedia platforms. Our vision is to break down technical barriers to creativity, making real-time generative and intelligent orchestration accessible to all. Join us to shape the next evolution of creative technology!\n\n \n\nIf you are passionate about advancing RL alignment and generative modeling for video, and want to scale real-time multimodal foundation models, we want to hear from you.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":"$185K – $400K • 0.1% – 0.3%","scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":"$185K - $400K","compensationTiers":[{"id":"73ac5411-b6dd-4f3e-b6b2-997ced77e82e","tierSummary":"Base Salary $185K – $400K • 0.1% – 0.3%","title":"US location","additionalInformation":null,"components":[{"id":"07455d92-1005-4435-b48d-fd61b924b7b5","summary":"0.1% – 0.3%","compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":0.1,"maxValue":0.3},{"id":"692bd956-042e-4e2e-87d6-cf03b49ea948","summary":"Base Salary $185K – $400K","compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":185000,"maxValue":400000}]}],"summaryComponents":[{"compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":0.1,"maxValue":0.3},{"compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":185000,"maxValue":400000}]}},{"id":"fb9e43d7-36b8-46c7-93cd-2b7504e30363","title":"ML Engineer, Inference & Optimization","department":"Research","team":"Research","employmentType":"FullTime","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":true,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-06-23T21:47:29.414+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/fb9e43d7-36b8-46c7-93cd-2b7504e30363","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/fb9e43d7-36b8-46c7-93cd-2b7504e30363/application","descriptionHtml":"We are seeking Senior/Staff level Inference Engineers to accelerate the performance of Pika's AI-driven products. In this highly technical role, you will operate at the intersection of cutting-edge inference acceleration, GPU parallelism, advanced model deployment, and video generation technologies. Your expertise will drive significant improvements to model speed and efficiency, ensuring our creative AI systems deliver industry-leading user experiences at scale.
You will design and optimize inference pipelines, implement state-of-the-art acceleration techniques, and work closely with researchers and engineers across the team to push the boundaries of what’s possible in real-time AI deployment. Your efforts will play a foundational role in powering the next generation of Pika’s video and language models.
Accelerate Inference: Lead and implement advanced inference acceleration techniques, including attention optimization and quantization for efficient model serving.
Maximize GPU Parallelism: Engineer and optimize GPU strategies across tensor, sequence, and pipeline parallelism (TP, SP, PP) for maximal efficiency and scalability.
Programming for Performance: Develop and optimize high-performance computing kernels and distributed workloads using CUDA and NCCL.
Advance AI Deployment: Collaborate with research and engineering teams to bring state-of-the-art videogen and large language models into production.
Improve Training Efficiency: (Bonus) Contribute to improvements in model training speed, stability, and resource utilization as part of our deployment lifecycle.
Technical Excellence: Drive rigorous code reviews, participate in technical discussions, and mentor fellow engineers on best practices in inference and GPU programming.
Experience: 5+ years engineering experience, with a strong track record in inference acceleration and model deployment at scale.
Inference Mastery: Proven expertise in inference optimization, including quantization, attention acceleration, and deep learning compiler stacks.
GPU & Parallelism: Deep knowledge of GPU programming (CUDA, NCCL) and experience with SP, TP, PP, and other forms of parallelism for distributed inference.
AI Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with video generation (videogen) models and large language models (LLMs).
Collaboration: Strong cross-discipline communication skills; able to drive shared goals across research and engineering functions.
Ownership Mindset: Self-driven, solutions-oriented, and capable of managing ambiguity in a fast-paced startup environment.
Bonus: Experience in enhancing training efficiency, stability, or resource optimization for large models.
Experience with high-throughput video or real-time streaming model deployment
Familiarity with distributed training and optimization toolkits
Contributions to open source projects in AI infrastructure or deep learning compilers
Startup or rapid prototyping experience
Competitive salary in the AI industry
Equity in a fast-growing startup shaping the future of AI
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, company retreats
A supportive and collaborative office culture—we’re all building and launching together
At Pika, we're crafting a future where video creation is seamless, intuitive, and universally accessible. Our mission is to empower creativity by breaking down technical barriers using the transformative power of AI. We’re a tight-knit, energetic team based in Palo Alto, CA, valuing efficiency, curiosity, and the ambition to make a meaningful impact on the world.
We work from our Palo Alto office 3–5 days a week and welcome applicants who are eager to contribute onsite.
","descriptionPlain":"ABOUT THE ROLE\n\nWe are seeking Senior/Staff level Inference Engineers to accelerate the performance of Pika's AI-driven products. In this highly technical role, you will operate at the intersection of cutting-edge inference acceleration, GPU parallelism, advanced model deployment, and video generation technologies. Your expertise will drive significant improvements to model speed and efficiency, ensuring our creative AI systems deliver industry-leading user experiences at scale.\n\n \n\nYou will design and optimize inference pipelines, implement state-of-the-art acceleration techniques, and work closely with researchers and engineers across the team to push the boundaries of what’s possible in real-time AI deployment. Your efforts will play a foundational role in powering the next generation of Pika’s video and language models.\n\n \n\n\nWHAT YOU’LL DO\n\n - Accelerate Inference: Lead and implement advanced inference acceleration techniques, including attention optimization and quantization for efficient model serving.\n\n - Maximize GPU Parallelism: Engineer and optimize GPU strategies across tensor, sequence, and pipeline parallelism (TP, SP, PP) for maximal efficiency and scalability.\n\n - Programming for Performance: Develop and optimize high-performance computing kernels and distributed workloads using CUDA and NCCL.\n\n - Advance AI Deployment: Collaborate with research and engineering teams to bring state-of-the-art videogen and large language models into production.\n\n - Improve Training Efficiency: (Bonus) Contribute to improvements in model training speed, stability, and resource utilization as part of our deployment lifecycle.\n\n - Technical Excellence: Drive rigorous code reviews, participate in technical discussions, and mentor fellow engineers on best practices in inference and GPU programming.\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR\n\n - Experience: 5+ years engineering experience, with a strong track record in inference acceleration and model deployment at scale.\n\n - Inference Mastery: Proven expertise in inference optimization, including quantization, attention acceleration, and deep learning compiler stacks.\n\n - GPU & Parallelism: Deep knowledge of GPU programming (CUDA, NCCL) and experience with SP, TP, PP, and other forms of parallelism for distributed inference.\n\n - AI Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with video generation (videogen) models and large language models (LLMs).\n\n - Collaboration: Strong cross-discipline communication skills; able to drive shared goals across research and engineering functions.\n\n - Ownership Mindset: Self-driven, solutions-oriented, and capable of managing ambiguity in a fast-paced startup environment.\n\n - Bonus: Experience in enhancing training efficiency, stability, or resource optimization for large models.\n\n \n\n\nNICE TO HAVE\n\n - Experience with high-throughput video or real-time streaming model deployment\n\n - Familiarity with distributed training and optimization toolkits\n\n - Contributions to open source projects in AI infrastructure or deep learning compilers\n\n - Startup or rapid prototyping experience\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE OFFER\n\n - Competitive salary in the AI industry\n\n - Equity in a fast-growing startup shaping the future of AI\n\n - Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, company retreats\n\n - A supportive and collaborative office culture—we’re all building and launching together\n\n \n\n\nABOUT PIKA\n\nAt Pika, we're crafting a future where video creation is seamless, intuitive, and universally accessible. Our mission is to empower creativity by breaking down technical barriers using the transformative power of AI. We’re a tight-knit, energetic team based in Palo Alto, CA, valuing efficiency, curiosity, and the ambition to make a meaningful impact on the world.\n\n \n\nWe work from our Palo Alto office 3–5 days a week and welcome applicants who are eager to contribute onsite.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":"$250K – $350K","scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":"$250K - $350K","compensationTiers":[{"id":"b4ba1588-0a59-4e5d-b6ed-c6f6dd791e67","tierSummary":"base salary $250K – $350K","title":null,"additionalInformation":null,"components":[{"id":"f6bd20ac-9f50-4ba8-af9e-dd9c22df1f83","summary":"base salary $250K – $350K","compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":250000,"maxValue":350000}]}],"summaryComponents":[{"compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":250000,"maxValue":350000}]}},{"id":"8dab8b44-71cd-4ed9-a598-34111d534ac1","title":"Senior/Staff Software Engineer, Backend","department":"Engineering","team":"Engineering","employmentType":"FullTime","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":true,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-07-01T23:30:33.164+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/8dab8b44-71cd-4ed9-a598-34111d534ac1","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/8dab8b44-71cd-4ed9-a598-34111d534ac1/application","descriptionHtml":"About Pika
At Pika, we’re building the next generation of AI creative tools to empower human creativity. Our mission is to make video creation seamless, intuitive, and accessible to everyone, leveraging the power of advanced AI. We believe that AI should amplify creative expression—enabling everyone to create, collaborate, and communicate across media. Our team includes engineers, artists, and product thinkers, all passionate about building tools that unlock new creative possibilities.
Pika has raised significant funding and is backed by leading investors, with a collaborative culture based in Palo Alto, CA. We prefer hybrid in-office, sharing ideas and launching products together.
About the Role
We are looking for a Staff Software Engineer, Backend, to lead and scale the backend infrastructure powering Pika’s user-facing products. In this high-impact role, you’ll own the design and delivery of robust, scalable backend systems, APIs, and infrastructure that support real-time collaboration, AI-powered workflows, and seamless product experiences.
You’ll work closely with engineering, product, and design teams to deliver features that are reliable, performant, and secure. Your leadership in architectural decisions and backend best practices will shape the technical foundation of Pika for millions of users, helping to define both the immediate experience and the long-term direction of our core backend platforms.
What You’ll Do
Architect and develop scalable, high-performing backend systems and APIs powering all Pika products and services
Build, maintain, and enhance distributed systems and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP), ensuring high availability and reliability
Take ownership of backend features and platforms from ideation through launch and ongoing iteration
Develop systems to support low-latency, real-time collaboration and messaging at scale
Design and optimize backend features that power creative, AI-driven product capabilities
Lead technical discussions, review code, drive backend architecture proposals, and mentor engineers to elevate standards across the team
What We’re Looking For
5+ years of backend software engineering experience, with at least 2+ years in senior backend roles
Deep expertise in building distributed systems, RESTful and real-time APIs, and cloud-native infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, etc.)
Strong system design skills for reliable, scalable backend services for high-traffic applications
Track record of launching impactful backend features that balance technical quality with business needs
Proven ability to independently lead complex projects, troubleshoot problems, and deliver impactful solutions
Excellent written and verbal communication, able to thrive in cross-functional teams
Nice to Have
Experience with real-time collaboration platforms, creative tools, or media-rich applications
Familiarity with integrating generative AI or agent-based systems
Experience at high-growth startups or in rapidly evolving settings
Competitive coding, hackathon, or open-source contributions
Our Stack
Python, Go, Node.js, Postgres, Redis, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/GCP
What We Offer
Competitive salary in the AI industry
Equity in a rapidly growing startup shaping the future of AI and creativity
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, and company retreats
Supportive, collaborative office culture—we’re all building and launching together
At Pika, we are pioneering the next generation of creative infrastructure built around real-time, multimodal generation and intelligent agentic platforms. We are looking for a staff or lead-level Research Engineer, Data to architect and scale data engineering systems supporting model training for our advanced multimodal foundation models. This pivotal role will strengthen our research teams by building, optimizing, and owning large-scale data pipelines and robust ML data curation, ensuring our foundation models have access to the highest quality and most diverse datasets. If you are passionate about powerful data infrastructure and innovative research-engineering, join us to make an impact for millions of creators.
Take ownership of large-scale data pipeline architecture and implementation to support model training and research workflows for text, image, audio, and video datasets
Partner with research and engineering teams to curate, clean, and manage diverse, sensory-rich datasets for pre-training and mid-training of multimodal models
Develop strategies and tools for scalable data ingestion, labeling, filtering, augmentation, and storage
Ensure data quality, reliability, and compliance, including managing privacy and ethical considerations throughout the data lifecycle
Optimize data processing, transformation, and delivery for large-scale distributed training pipelines
Prototype and productionize new methods for dataset creation, management, and continuous improvement in response to researcher needs
Contribute to the integration of research-driven data advancements into production-ready systems
Stay informed on emerging data engineering and ML data management developments, bringing best practices to our systems
5+ years of experience building and scaling data pipelines for machine learning applications at staff or lead engineer level, ideally in research or model training environments
Strong background in data engineering and ML data curation for LLMs, VLMs, or other large-scale multimodal models
Expertise in distributed data systems (e.g., Spark, Hadoop, Ray, or similar) and efficient large dataset processing/ETL workflows
Proven ability to build robust, scalable, and production-grade data infrastructure for ML pipelines
Experience developing tools for data labeling, filtering, deduplication, quality assurance, and dataset management
Strong programming skills (Python, SQL, PySpark, or similar) and familiarity with cloud data platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Knowledge of privacy, compliance, ethics, and best practices in data collection and management
Excellent cross-functional collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills
Passion for enabling cutting-edge generative AI and creative technology through data excellence
Competitive salary and substantial equity in a high-growth startup
Full health benefits, 401k matching, and more
Collaborative, mission-driven team environment with major growth opportunities
Flexible on-site/remote hybrid (HQ in Palo Alto, CA)
Pika empowers creators by building state-of-the-art agentic and multimedia platforms. Our vision is to break down technical barriers to creativity, making real-time generative and intelligent orchestration accessible to all. Join us and help shape the next evolution of creative technology!
If you are a data-driven research engineer excited to lead and scale the data infrastructure powering real-time multimodal foundation models, we want to hear from you.
","descriptionPlain":"ABOUT THE ROLE\n\nAt Pika, we are pioneering the next generation of creative infrastructure built around real-time, multimodal generation and intelligent agentic platforms. We are looking for a staff or lead-level Research Engineer, Data to architect and scale data engineering systems supporting model training for our advanced multimodal foundation models. This pivotal role will strengthen our research teams by building, optimizing, and owning large-scale data pipelines and robust ML data curation, ensuring our foundation models have access to the highest quality and most diverse datasets. If you are passionate about powerful data infrastructure and innovative research-engineering, join us to make an impact for millions of creators.\n\n \n\n\nWHAT YOU’LL DO\n\n - Take ownership of large-scale data pipeline architecture and implementation to support model training and research workflows for text, image, audio, and video datasets\n\n - Partner with research and engineering teams to curate, clean, and manage diverse, sensory-rich datasets for pre-training and mid-training of multimodal models\n\n - Develop strategies and tools for scalable data ingestion, labeling, filtering, augmentation, and storage\n\n - Ensure data quality, reliability, and compliance, including managing privacy and ethical considerations throughout the data lifecycle\n\n - Optimize data processing, transformation, and delivery for large-scale distributed training pipelines\n\n - Prototype and productionize new methods for dataset creation, management, and continuous improvement in response to researcher needs\n\n - Contribute to the integration of research-driven data advancements into production-ready systems\n\n - Stay informed on emerging data engineering and ML data management developments, bringing best practices to our systems\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR\n\n - 5+ years of experience building and scaling data pipelines for machine learning applications at staff or lead engineer level, ideally in research or model training environments\n\n - Strong background in data engineering and ML data curation for LLMs, VLMs, or other large-scale multimodal models\n\n - Expertise in distributed data systems (e.g., Spark, Hadoop, Ray, or similar) and efficient large dataset processing/ETL workflows\n\n - Proven ability to build robust, scalable, and production-grade data infrastructure for ML pipelines\n\n - Experience developing tools for data labeling, filtering, deduplication, quality assurance, and dataset management\n\n - Strong programming skills (Python, SQL, PySpark, or similar) and familiarity with cloud data platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)\n\n - Knowledge of privacy, compliance, ethics, and best practices in data collection and management\n\n - Excellent cross-functional collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills\n\n - Passion for enabling cutting-edge generative AI and creative technology through data excellence\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE OFFER\n\n - Competitive salary and substantial equity in a high-growth startup\n\n - Full health benefits, 401k matching, and more\n\n - Collaborative, mission-driven team environment with major growth opportunities\n\n - Flexible on-site/remote hybrid (HQ in Palo Alto, CA)\n\n \n\n\nABOUT PIKA\n\nPika empowers creators by building state-of-the-art agentic and multimedia platforms. Our vision is to break down technical barriers to creativity, making real-time generative and intelligent orchestration accessible to all. Join us and help shape the next evolution of creative technology!\n\n \n\nIf you are a data-driven research engineer excited to lead and scale the data infrastructure powering real-time multimodal foundation models, we want to hear from you.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":"$185K – $400K • 0.1% – 0.3%","scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":"$185K - $400K","compensationTiers":[{"id":"ba5f7938-c9e2-41f7-a58d-6c2ee56f5af9","tierSummary":"Base Salary $185K – $400K • 0.1% – 0.3%","title":"US location","additionalInformation":null,"components":[{"id":"1f4439d2-73c7-4f5c-97bb-089df21e83fd","summary":"0.1% – 0.3%","compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":0.1,"maxValue":0.3},{"id":"fadfecb5-23e5-4797-9618-040f8280e752","summary":"Base Salary $185K – $400K","compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":185000,"maxValue":400000}]}],"summaryComponents":[{"compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":0.1,"maxValue":0.3},{"compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":185000,"maxValue":400000}]}},{"id":"ab076a0a-8abc-4110-a0ab-a56e276ac891","title":"Head of Growth","department":"Product","team":"Product","employmentType":"FullTime","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":true,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-07-02T07:57:20.140+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/ab076a0a-8abc-4110-a0ab-a56e276ac891","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/ab076a0a-8abc-4110-a0ab-a56e276ac891/application","descriptionHtml":"About the Role
We're looking for a Head of Growth with a passion for creative AI and user empowerment to help us shape the future of video creation. You’ll turn first-time visitors into lifelong Pika creators, owning the growth levers that drive activation, retention, and monetization. Through bold experimentation, rapid iteration, and hands-on product changes, you’ll directly influence how millions discover, create, and stay inspired with Pika.
What You’ll Do
Own the entire growth journey: from acquisition and activation to crafting retention loops and creative, user-centric monetization paths.
Conceptualize, launch, and analyze rapid-fire experiments (A/B tests, feature flags) with an eye toward out-of-the-box creative impact.
Build and champion a deep understanding of our users—how they create, what motivates them, and how our creative AI can unlock their potential.
Collaborate daily with world-class engineering, design, marketing, and data teams to deliver bold, high-impact growth initiatives.
Set up and evolve the metrics and dashboards that reveal what truly powers user creativity—double down on what works, swiftly sunset what doesn’t.
What We’re Looking For
2–5 years in product management or growth, ideally at a consumer or PLG company where experimentation is in your DNA.
Relentlessly analytical: fluent in SQL and analytics tools, with a strong bias for insights that fuel creative product direction.
Fast to ship, fast to learn: you thrive on velocity, creative risk-taking, and rapidly learning from real-world results.
Deep product intuition: you know how to balance ambitious near-term growth bets with sustaining long-term creative ecosystems.
Crystal-clear communicator: you can champion a bold new idea—or pivot away from one—fast and persuasively.
Nice to Have
Experience with consumer subscription, freemium, or creator monetization models.
Familiarity with creative AI, generative media products, or creator-economy platforms.
Background at an early-stage or hypergrowth startup where creativity and speed rule.
What We Offer
Competitive salary in the thriving creative AI space
Equity in a high-growth startup shaping the landscape of generative creativity
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, company retreats
A collaborative office culture in Palo Alto—where we build, iterate, and celebrate creativity together
About Pika
At Pika, our mission is to make video creation radically seamless, deeply intuitive, and universally accessible. We’re reimagining how everyone can express their creativity through video, driven by the latest advances in AI. Our culture is inventive, collaborative, and deeply focused on impact. Join us in Palo Alto, CA (office 3–5 days a week) to help push the boundaries of creative technology and empower the next generation of creators.
About the Role
We're looking for a Product Manager to power the next creative leap at Pika. You’ll shape the core experience of our generative AI platform, transforming how millions of creators bring bold ideas to life with powerful, intuitive tools. This hands-on, high-impact role is perfect for those who thrive at the edge of cutting-edge technology and imaginative product vision.
What You'll Do
Own the roadmap, prioritization, and end-to-end delivery for a flagship area of our creative platform—taking ideas from spark to launch and rapid evolution.
Work side-by-side with world-class engineering, design, and research teams to turn visionary ideas and AI advances into delightful user experiences.
Define and relentlessly drive success metrics, blending data, feedback, and creative insight to illuminate what creators truly need next.
Talk directly to creators, experimenters, and the Pika community to deeply understand how generative AI inspires—and where it can push creative possibility even further.
Craft crystal-clear specs, rally the team, and lead execution into the unknown in our fast-paced, possibility-filled environment.
What We're Looking For
Experience: 2–5 years in product management at a creative-tech company, consumer platform, or innovative startup.
Vision and ownership: You’ve shipped transformational features with minimal guidance, and you see around corners to anticipate creative needs.
Creative craft: Exceptional product sense—especially in ambiguous, idea-driven domains; you’re comfortable shaping the \"never been done.\"
Communication: Inspiring and concise, both written and spoken; you align teams and energize creative collaboration.
Passion for AI: You’re genuinely excited by the creative revolution generative AI unlocks—and eager to harness it for bold, new possibilities.
Nice to Have
Hands-on with consumer, media-rich, or collaborative creation products.
Experience thriving in 0–1 or \"blank page\" environments.
Technical fluency (able to dive into code or partner closely with engineering on creative tradeoffs).
What We Offer
Competitive salary in the AI frontier
Equity in a rapidly-scaling creative AI startup
Comprehensive benefits, monthly creative stipends, and company retreats
A vibrant, collaborative Palo Alto office culture—where inspiration, ambition, and fun go hand-in-hand
About Pika
Pika is reimagining creative expression with AI. We’re building breakthrough tools to make video creation radically intuitive, lightning-fast, and accessible to everyone. Our culture is driven by sharp minds, prolific collaboration, and a passion for shaping the creative future. Join us at our Palo Alto HQ (in-office 3–5 days a week) to help invent what’s next in creative AI.
","descriptionPlain":"About the Role\n\n \n\nWe're looking for a Product Manager to power the next creative leap at Pika. You’ll shape the core experience of our generative AI platform, transforming how millions of creators bring bold ideas to life with powerful, intuitive tools. This hands-on, high-impact role is perfect for those who thrive at the edge of cutting-edge technology and imaginative product vision.\n\n \n\nWhat You'll Do\n\n \n\n - Own the roadmap, prioritization, and end-to-end delivery for a flagship area of our creative platform—taking ideas from spark to launch and rapid evolution.\n\n - Work side-by-side with world-class engineering, design, and research teams to turn visionary ideas and AI advances into delightful user experiences.\n\n - Define and relentlessly drive success metrics, blending data, feedback, and creative insight to illuminate what creators truly need next.\n\n - Talk directly to creators, experimenters, and the Pika community to deeply understand how generative AI inspires—and where it can push creative possibility even further.\n\n - Craft crystal-clear specs, rally the team, and lead execution into the unknown in our fast-paced, possibility-filled environment.\n\n \n\nWhat We're Looking For\n\n \n\n - Experience: 2–5 years in product management at a creative-tech company, consumer platform, or innovative startup.\n\n - Vision and ownership: You’ve shipped transformational features with minimal guidance, and you see around corners to anticipate creative needs.\n\n - Creative craft: Exceptional product sense—especially in ambiguous, idea-driven domains; you’re comfortable shaping the \"never been done.\"\n\n - Communication: Inspiring and concise, both written and spoken; you align teams and energize creative collaboration.\n\n - Passion for AI: You’re genuinely excited by the creative revolution generative AI unlocks—and eager to harness it for bold, new possibilities.\n\n \n\nNice to Have\n\n \n\n - Hands-on with consumer, media-rich, or collaborative creation products.\n\n - Experience thriving in 0–1 or \"blank page\" environments.\n\n - Technical fluency (able to dive into code or partner closely with engineering on creative tradeoffs).\n\n \n\nWhat We Offer\n\n \n\n - Competitive salary in the AI frontier\n\n - Equity in a rapidly-scaling creative AI startup\n\n - Comprehensive benefits, monthly creative stipends, and company retreats\n\n - A vibrant, collaborative Palo Alto office culture—where inspiration, ambition, and fun go hand-in-hand\n\n \n\nAbout Pika\n\n \n\nPika is reimagining creative expression with AI. We’re building breakthrough tools to make video creation radically intuitive, lightning-fast, and accessible to everyone. Our culture is driven by sharp minds, prolific collaboration, and a passion for shaping the creative future. Join us at our Palo Alto HQ (in-office 3–5 days a week) to help invent what’s next in creative AI.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":"$160K – $225K • Offers Equity","scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":"$160K - $225K","compensationTiers":[{"id":"5fca7903-55c6-4517-bdf7-977e53f61165","tierSummary":"base salary $160K – $225K • Offers Equity","title":null,"additionalInformation":null,"components":[{"id":"cc2fad07-b046-4fca-93d3-30b5c80d9bac","summary":"Offers Equity","compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":null,"maxValue":null},{"id":"376250b1-e36b-40f3-bd05-18ef39848ad0","summary":"base salary $160K – $225K","compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":160000,"maxValue":225000}]}],"summaryComponents":[{"compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":null,"maxValue":null},{"compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":160000,"maxValue":225000}]}},{"id":"e135acb1-2a0b-47b4-81b2-3cb0f787657a","title":"Research Intern (BS/MS/PhD)","department":"Research","team":"Research","employmentType":"Intern","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":false,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-07-10T18:04:54.423+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/e135acb1-2a0b-47b4-81b2-3cb0f787657a","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/e135acb1-2a0b-47b4-81b2-3cb0f787657a/application","descriptionHtml":"About the Role
At Pika, we are shaping the future of creative infrastructure with real-time, multimodal generation and intelligent agentic platforms. We are looking for passionate Research Interns at the BS, MS, or PhD level with significant experience working on Videogen to join our team and make an immediate impact. In this role, you will directly contribute to mid-training and post-training efforts for Videogen models and support advanced generative systems. Familiarity with multimodal large language models (MLLMs) is valued as a bonus.
This internship is ideal for students and researchers who have hands-on Videogen experience, are excited to work at the intersection of generative AI and multimedia, and are eager to make meaningful contributions alongside top AI talent. Flexible part-time and full-time internship terms are available.
What You’ll Do
Work directly on large-scale mid-training, post-training, and optimization efforts for Videogen models.
Design, prototype, and refine algorithms for high-throughput video and multimedia data pipelines.
Collaborate with experienced researchers and engineers on advanced AI and video generation technology.
Apply new research techniques and production-scale workflows to deploy Videogen advancements into real-world applications.
What We’re Looking For
BS, MS, or PhD-level backgrounds, with demonstrated Videogen experience strongly preferred.
Expertise in video generation models or frameworks.
Proficiency in Python and ML toolkits (such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.).
Prior exposure to multimodal LLM inference, generative models, or related areas is a bonus.
Fast learner who can adapt to new research and technologies quickly.
Excellent communicator and effective team collaborator.
What We Offer
Flexible internship: part-time or full-time roles available
Unique opportunity to make an immediate impact with Videogen and generative AI research
Mentorship and collaboration with innovative researchers and engineers
Competitive compensation and a dynamic, mission-driven environment
Onsite work setup, with headquarters in Palo Alto, CA
About Pika
Pika empowers creators by building cutting-edge agentic and multimedia platforms. Our mission is to remove technical barriers and make real-time generative and intelligent orchestration accessible to everyone. If you are ready to accelerate your AI career, hone your video generation expertise, and contribute to the next wave of creative technology, we want to hear from you.
","descriptionPlain":"About the Role\n\n \n\nAt Pika, we are shaping the future of creative infrastructure with real-time, multimodal generation and intelligent agentic platforms. We are looking for passionate Research Interns at the BS, MS, or PhD level with significant experience working on Videogen to join our team and make an immediate impact. In this role, you will directly contribute to mid-training and post-training efforts for Videogen models and support advanced generative systems. Familiarity with multimodal large language models (MLLMs) is valued as a bonus.\n\n \n\nThis internship is ideal for students and researchers who have hands-on Videogen experience, are excited to work at the intersection of generative AI and multimedia, and are eager to make meaningful contributions alongside top AI talent. Flexible part-time and full-time internship terms are available.\n\n \n\nWhat You’ll Do\n\n \n\n - Work directly on large-scale mid-training, post-training, and optimization efforts for Videogen models.\n\n - Design, prototype, and refine algorithms for high-throughput video and multimedia data pipelines.\n\n - Collaborate with experienced researchers and engineers on advanced AI and video generation technology.\n\n - Apply new research techniques and production-scale workflows to deploy Videogen advancements into real-world applications.\n\n \n\nWhat We’re Looking For\n\n \n\n - BS, MS, or PhD-level backgrounds, with demonstrated Videogen experience strongly preferred.\n\n - Expertise in video generation models or frameworks.\n\n - Proficiency in Python and ML toolkits (such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.).\n\n - Prior exposure to multimodal LLM inference, generative models, or related areas is a bonus.\n\n - Fast learner who can adapt to new research and technologies quickly.\n\n - Excellent communicator and effective team collaborator.\n\n \n\nWhat We Offer\n\n \n\n - Flexible internship: part-time or full-time roles available\n\n - Unique opportunity to make an immediate impact with Videogen and generative AI research\n\n - Mentorship and collaboration with innovative researchers and engineers\n\n - Competitive compensation and a dynamic, mission-driven environment\n\n - Onsite work setup, with headquarters in Palo Alto, CA\n\n \n\nAbout Pika\n\n \n\nPika empowers creators by building cutting-edge agentic and multimedia platforms. Our mission is to remove technical barriers and make real-time generative and intelligent orchestration accessible to everyone. If you are ready to accelerate your AI career, hone your video generation expertise, and contribute to the next wave of creative technology, we want to hear from you.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":null,"scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":null,"compensationTiers":[],"summaryComponents":[]}},{"id":"8fbdfff7-71d5-49d1-a10c-d93eb4205f22","title":"Head of Sales","department":"Business","team":"Business","employmentType":"FullTime","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":true,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-08-10T19:06:43.422+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/8fbdfff7-71d5-49d1-a10c-d93eb4205f22","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/8fbdfff7-71d5-49d1-a10c-d93eb4205f22/application","descriptionHtml":"About the Role
We're seeking a Founding Go-To-Market (GTM) expert who will play a foundational role in building our sales and account management capabilities at Pika. As the first member of our GTM team, you will take ownership of driving customer acquisition, building strong client relationships, and establishing the go-to-market strategies that power our continued growth. You’ll be responsible for leading sales efforts, managing key accounts, and setting the standard for how we engage with customers and execute commercial initiatives.
What You’ll Do
Own the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing and account management
Build and nurture relationships with new and existing clients
Develop and execute go-to-market strategies to drive adoption and revenue
Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, understanding their needs and delivering tailored solutions
Collaborate with product, marketing, and leadership teams to align on customer needs and opportunities
Provide feedback to internal teams to inform product development and strategy
Set and track performance metrics to measure and report on sales impact
What We’re Looking For
Proven experience in account management, sales, or business development
Self-starter attitude and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, startup environment
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
Strong problem-solving abilities and customer-oriented mindset
Comfortable taking ownership and leading go-to-market efforts from the ground up
Nice to Have
Experience in the technology or creative AI space
Familiarity with building sales processes and playbooks at early-stage startups
Background working closely with product and marketing teams
What We Offer
Competitive compensation package
Equity in a high-growth creative AI startup
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, and company retreats
Collaborative office culture in Palo Alto, CA (remote ok within US)
About Pika
At Pika, our mission is to make video creation radically seamless, deeply intuitive, and universally accessible. We're driven by the latest advances in AI and a passion for empowering creators. Join us in Palo Alto, CA to help shape the future of creative technology as the cornerstone of our go-to-market team.
","descriptionPlain":"About the Role\n\n \n\nWe're seeking a Founding Go-To-Market (GTM) expert who will play a foundational role in building our sales and account management capabilities at Pika. As the first member of our GTM team, you will take ownership of driving customer acquisition, building strong client relationships, and establishing the go-to-market strategies that power our continued growth. You’ll be responsible for leading sales efforts, managing key accounts, and setting the standard for how we engage with customers and execute commercial initiatives.\n\n \n\nWhat You’ll Do\n\n \n\n - Own the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing and account management\n\n - Build and nurture relationships with new and existing clients\n\n - Develop and execute go-to-market strategies to drive adoption and revenue\n\n - Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, understanding their needs and delivering tailored solutions\n\n - Collaborate with product, marketing, and leadership teams to align on customer needs and opportunities\n\n - Provide feedback to internal teams to inform product development and strategy\n\n - Set and track performance metrics to measure and report on sales impact\n\n \n\nWhat We’re Looking For\n\n \n\n - Proven experience in account management, sales, or business development\n\n - Self-starter attitude and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, startup environment\n\n - Excellent communication and relationship-building skills\n\n - Strong problem-solving abilities and customer-oriented mindset\n\n - Comfortable taking ownership and leading go-to-market efforts from the ground up\n\n \n\nNice to Have\n\n \n\n - Experience in the technology or creative AI space\n\n - Familiarity with building sales processes and playbooks at early-stage startups\n\n - Background working closely with product and marketing teams\n\n \n\nWhat We Offer\n\n \n\n - Competitive compensation package\n\n - Equity in a high-growth creative AI startup\n\n - Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, and company retreats\n\n - Collaborative office culture in Palo Alto, CA (remote ok within US)\n\n \n\nAbout Pika\n\n \n\nAt Pika, our mission is to make video creation radically seamless, deeply intuitive, and universally accessible. We're driven by the latest advances in AI and a passion for empowering creators. Join us in Palo Alto, CA to help shape the future of creative technology as the cornerstone of our go-to-market team.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":"$350K – $500K • Offers Equity","scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":"$350K - $500K","compensationTiers":[{"id":"2fe18a63-c24a-45db-a847-f3c2771df4d6","tierSummary":"On-Target Earnings (Base + Variables) $350K – $500K • Offers Equity","title":null,"additionalInformation":null,"components":[{"id":"f929dfe6-82fd-455e-92c3-5c064f1a8983","summary":"On-Target Earnings (Base + Variables) $350K – $500K","compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":350000,"maxValue":500000},{"id":"9ba9fced-23f2-46f9-822f-be78c6273956","summary":"Offers Equity","compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":null,"maxValue":null}]}],"summaryComponents":[{"compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":350000,"maxValue":500000},{"compensationType":"EquityPercentage","interval":"NONE","currencyCode":null,"minValue":null,"maxValue":null}]}},{"id":"2a284a94-c473-4b30-b079-e06881f36983","title":"Head of Finance","department":"Operations","team":"Operations","employmentType":"FullTime","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":true,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-08-31T19:04:50.642+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/2a284a94-c473-4b30-b079-e06881f36983","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/2a284a94-c473-4b30-b079-e06881f36983/application","descriptionHtml":"Pika is seeking a strategic and experienced Head of Finance to join our on-site team in Palo Alto. As Head of Finance, you will be responsible for the overall financial leadership of the company, driving strategy, planning, compliance, and execution to enable our next phase of growth as a creative AI leader. You’ll work closely with the executive team to ensure financial health, transparency, and effective resource allocation, guiding Pika’s business decisions and growth strategy.
Lead and oversee all aspects of Pika’s financial operations, including accounting, FP&A, budgeting, treasury, AP/AR, and payroll
Build and manage scalable financial planning, modeling, and forecasting processes to guide executive decision-making
Develop and drive the company’s financial strategy, including long-term planning, fundraising support, and cross-functional resource allocation
Direct timely and accurate month-end and year-end close, financial reporting, statutory audits, and tax filings
Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, as well as GAAP and internal controls
Monitor key financial indicators and provide proactive insights on risks, opportunities, and performance trends
Set up and manage financial systems and controls necessary for a high-growth, venture-backed environment
Partner with leadership across departments (Product, Sales, Operations) to evaluate and support business initiatives and company-wide strategy
7+ years of progressive finance leadership, including experience managing a finance team in a high-growth company or startup
Demonstrated expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, accounting principles, and business analytics
Broad experience managing full-stack finance functions, including budgeting, treasury, compliance, and internal controls
Strong track record of supporting fundraising, investor reporting, and board deliverables
Meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organization and leadership skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with confidence presenting to C-suite leadership and the board
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field required; CPA or MBA strongly preferred
Experience in technology, SaaS, or creative AI sectors
Prior leadership within a venture-backed startup
Experience implementing or scaling financial systems or working with external partners
Competitive executive-level compensation
Substantial equity in a high-growth, mission-driven startup
Full health benefits, monthly stipends, and regular company retreats
Collaborative on-site office environment in Palo Alto (WFH Wednesdays)
At Pika, our mission is to make video creation radically seamless, deeply intuitive, and universally accessible. We're reimagining the creative process through AI and building a world-class team to push the limits of technology. Join us in Palo Alto, CA to help shape the future of creative technology and empower the next generation of creators.
","descriptionPlain":"PART-TIME 25 HOURS/WEEK, OPEN TO FULL-TIME. \n\n\n\nABOUT THE ROLE\n\nPika is seeking a strategic and experienced Head of Finance to join our on-site team in Palo Alto. As Head of Finance, you will be responsible for the overall financial leadership of the company, driving strategy, planning, compliance, and execution to enable our next phase of growth as a creative AI leader. You’ll work closely with the executive team to ensure financial health, transparency, and effective resource allocation, guiding Pika’s business decisions and growth strategy.\n\n \n\n\nWHAT YOU’LL DO\n\n - Lead and oversee all aspects of Pika’s financial operations, including accounting, FP&A, budgeting, treasury, AP/AR, and payroll\n\n - Build and manage scalable financial planning, modeling, and forecasting processes to guide executive decision-making\n\n - Develop and drive the company’s financial strategy, including long-term planning, fundraising support, and cross-functional resource allocation\n\n - Direct timely and accurate month-end and year-end close, financial reporting, statutory audits, and tax filings\n\n - Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, as well as GAAP and internal controls\n\n - Monitor key financial indicators and provide proactive insights on risks, opportunities, and performance trends\n\n - Set up and manage financial systems and controls necessary for a high-growth, venture-backed environment\n\n - Partner with leadership across departments (Product, Sales, Operations) to evaluate and support business initiatives and company-wide strategy\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR\n\n - 7+ years of progressive finance leadership, including experience managing a finance team in a high-growth company or startup\n\n - Demonstrated expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, accounting principles, and business analytics\n\n - Broad experience managing full-stack finance functions, including budgeting, treasury, compliance, and internal controls\n\n - Strong track record of supporting fundraising, investor reporting, and board deliverables\n\n - Meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organization and leadership skills\n\n - Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with confidence presenting to C-suite leadership and the board\n\n - Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field required; CPA or MBA strongly preferred\n\n \n\n\nNICE TO HAVE\n\n - Experience in technology, SaaS, or creative AI sectors\n\n - Prior leadership within a venture-backed startup\n\n - Experience implementing or scaling financial systems or working with external partners\n\n \n\n\nWHAT WE OFFER\n\n - Competitive executive-level compensation\n\n - Substantial equity in a high-growth, mission-driven startup\n\n - Full health benefits, monthly stipends, and regular company retreats\n\n - Collaborative on-site office environment in Palo Alto (WFH Wednesdays)\n\n \n\n\nABOUT PIKA\n\nAt Pika, our mission is to make video creation radically seamless, deeply intuitive, and universally accessible. We're reimagining the creative process through AI and building a world-class team to push the limits of technology. Join us in Palo Alto, CA to help shape the future of creative technology and empower the next generation of creators.","compensation":{"compensationTierSummary":"$180K – $250K","scrapeableCompensationSalarySummary":"$180K - $250K","compensationTiers":[{"id":"98060620-99fb-4515-8ae9-7ba59ce09637","tierSummary":"base salary $180K – $250K","title":null,"additionalInformation":null,"components":[{"id":"358ddad7-8a89-4e2c-bd13-7be4deb994a2","summary":"base salary $180K – $250K","compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":180000,"maxValue":250000}]}],"summaryComponents":[{"compensationType":"Salary","interval":"1 YEAR","currencyCode":"USD","minValue":180000,"maxValue":250000}]}},{"id":"772cd189-caa1-41bc-a0a0-0bb67ef7b3a6","title":"Principal Software Engineer, Product","department":"Engineering","team":"Engineering","employmentType":"FullTime","location":"Palo Alto HQ","shouldDisplayCompensationOnJobPostings":true,"secondaryLocations":[],"publishedAt":"2026-09-15T00:47:37.996+00:00","isListed":true,"isRemote":false,"workplaceType":"OnSite","address":{"postalAddress":{"addressRegion":"California","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Palo Alto"}},"jobUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/772cd189-caa1-41bc-a0a0-0bb67ef7b3a6","applyUrl":"https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pika/772cd189-caa1-41bc-a0a0-0bb67ef7b3a6/application","descriptionHtml":"At Pika, we’re building the next generation of AI creative tools to empower human creativity. Our mission is to make video creation seamless, intuitive, and accessible to everyone, leveraging the power of advanced AI. We believe that AI should amplify creative expression—enabling everyone to create, collaborate, and communicate across media. Our team includes engineers, artists, and product thinkers, all passionate about building tools that unlock new creative possibilities.
Pika has raised significant funding and is backed by leading investors, with a collaborative culture based in Palo Alto, CA. We prefer hybrid in-office, sharing ideas and launching products together.
We’re seeking a Principal Product Engineer to lead the technical vision, architecture, and roadmap for user-facing systems at Pika. In this high-impact, senior leadership role, you’ll guide the engineering direction for features that serve millions of creative users—from intuitive UIs and collaboration tools to real-time interactions and advanced generative AI experiences.
You’ll work closely with product, design, and engineering leadership to deliver features that are robust, scalable, and delightful to use. You’ll influence both the immediate user experience and long-term product vision, taking ideas from strategic conception to launch and ongoing iteration.
Own and define the architecture and technical strategy for Pika’s web and multi-platform products
Spearhead the development of real-time collaboration capabilities, messaging, and live multi-user interactions
Drive product features from ideation through scoping, development, launch, and continuous improvement
Integrate complex generative AI workflows (LLMs, models, agentic tools) into creative tooling
Partner deeply with product and design leaders to deliver groundbreaking, accessible creative workflows
Champion technical excellence through high standards, architecture reviews, mentorship, and proposals
Oversee and improve cross-service metrics, tracing, and observability for critical product features
8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with substantial time in senior/principal engineering and product-focused roles
Distinguished track record leading the design, execution, and scaling of high-impact web or mobile products (React, TypeScript, Node.js, Go, or similar)
Demonstrated strategy and execution in building robust, user-centric features for creative applications
Comprehensive expertise in systems design: distributed systems, scalable APIs, and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP)
Experience working across the stack, including ML/AI infrastructure (Python, GPU-backed workflows) as required
Exceptional product intuition and a strategic mindset—driven by deep understanding of user and business needs
Excellent communication and leadership skills; able to influence across disciplines and build consensus
Strong sense of ownership and passion for delivering delightful creative experiences at scale
Experience building or integrating generative AI, agentic workflows, or ML inference platforms (Python/PyTorch)
Creative background (design, art, architecture, or similar)
Expertise in media-rich and real-time collaboration applications
Startup experience and proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
React, TypeScript, Python, Go, Postgres, Redis, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/GCP
Competitive salary in the AI industry
Significant equity in a rapidly growing startup shaping the future of AI and creativity
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, and company retreats
Supportive, collaborative office culture—we’re building and launching together
About Pika
At Pika, we’re building the next generation of AI creative tools to empower human creativity. Our mission is to make video creation seamless, intuitive, and accessible to everyone, leveraging the power of advanced AI. We believe that AI should amplify creative expression—enabling everyone to create, collaborate, and communicate across media. Our team includes engineers, artists, and product thinkers, all passionate about building tools that unlock new creative possibilities.
Pika has raised significant funding and is backed by leading investors, with a collaborative culture based in Palo Alto, CA. We prefer hybrid in-office, sharing ideas and launching products together.
About the Role
We are seeking a Head of Engineer, Product Engineering, to provide visionary leadership for the strategy, architecture, and execution of Pika’s core product engineering initiatives. In this executive-level role, you will define and drive the execution of our technical roadmap for all user-facing products.
You will lead and mentor high-performing engineering teams, working closely with product, design, and ML leadership to deliver features that are robust, scalable, and innovative for millions of users. Your technical expertise and leadership will shape product direction, ensuring exceptional engineering standards and prioritizing team growth and cross-functional alignment.
What You’ll Do
Set and communicate the technical vision and strategy for product engineering across all Pika platforms and user-facing features
Lead, mentor, and scale multiple engineering teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and innovation
Architect and oversee the delivery of scalable, high-performing systems, ensuring best practices in system reliability, security, and efficiency
Partner deeply with product, design, and ML teams to define technical solutions aligned with business and user needs
Guide technical decision-making at both strategic and architectural levels, including technology selection and process improvement
Champion standards for software quality, rapid iteration, and best-in-class product experience
Own the technical roadmap, including resource planning and milestone delivery for major product launches and iterations
Represent engineering in executive discussions and drive cross-functional alignment
What We’re Looking For
10+ years of progressive engineering experience, with significant time spent managing and scaling product engineering teams
Strong record of technical leadership in developing and launching complex, high-impact, user-facing products (web/mobile)
Proven experience in building and scaling distributed systems, APIs, and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP, Kubernetes, etc.)
Mastery of system and software architecture for high-traffic, media-rich, or AI-powered applications
Emotional intelligence and mentorship skills, with a track record of developing engineering leaders and high-performing teams
Deep experience collaborating with executive leadership to shape organizational vision and drive business outcomes
Outstanding communication and organizational abilities, thriving in a collaborative, dynamic environment
Nice to Have
Experience with generative AI, creative tools, or large-scale collaboration platforms
Background in high-growth startups or high-ambiguity environments
Open source, hackathon, or competitive coding experience
Our Stack
Python, Go, Node.js, Postgres, Redis, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/GCP
What We Offer
Competitive executive-level salary in the AI industry
Substantial equity in a fast-growing startup defining the future of AI and creativity
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, and company retreats
A collaborative leadership environment—we’re all building and launching together
About Pika
At Pika, we’re building the next generation of AI creative tools to empower human creativity. Our mission is to make video creation seamless, intuitive, and accessible to everyone by leveraging the power of advanced AI. We believe that AI should amplify creative expression—enabling everyone to create, collaborate, and communicate across media. Our team includes engineers, artists, and product thinkers, all passionate about building tools that unlock new creative possibilities.
Pika has raised significant funding and is backed by leading investors, with a collaborative culture based in Palo Alto, CA. We prefer a hybrid in-office model, sharing ideas and launching products together.
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior/Staff Product Engineer to play a key role in developing, launching, and scaling the product features that define Pika’s next generation AI-powered creative tools. You will collaborate closely with engineering, design, ML, and product teams to define product vision, design and build user-facing features, and deliver seamless creative experiences powered by cutting-edge AI technology.
You will be responsible for architecting robust, scalable software systems and crafting high-quality product features from concept to launch. As a technical leader, you’ll mentor peers, drive technical best practices, and have significant ownership in shaping the evolution of our core product.
What You’ll Do
Design, develop, and launch intuitive product features for AI-powered video and multimedia tools
Collaborate with designers, engineers, and researchers to translate creative possibilities into real, user-facing features
Architect and implement end-to-end product solutions, from backend infrastructure to frontend experience
Ensure product quality, performance, and reliability across platforms
Conduct code reviews, promote engineering best practices, and mentor team members
Iterate rapidly on features, prototypes, and experiments in a fast-paced startup environment
Partner closely with product and UX to deliver delightful, accessible user experiences
What We’re Looking For
5+ years experience in a senior engineering or product engineering role, ideally with a focus on user-facing features or creative tools
Strong proficiency in software engineering fundamentals, with experience across the stack (front-end and back-end)
Proven ability to design and build high-quality, scalable product features end-to-end
Experience shipping software in production, ideally in consumer applications, SaaS, or creative technology
Solid coding skills with modern languages and frameworks (e.g., TypeScript, React, Python, Go, or similar)
Strong architectural skills and an eye for product detail and intuitiveness
A collaborative, ownership-driven mindset with the ability to work independently and in teams
Excellent communication skills and a passion for mentorship and technical leadership
Nice to Have
Experience with creative tools, multimedia, generative AI, or video/image/audio product development
Background in building applications that leverage ML or AI-powered features
Startup experience—taking features or products from 0 to 1
Familiarity with designing delightful UX/UI in partnership with designers
What We Offer
Competitive salary in the AI and creative technology industry
Equity in a rapidly growing startup shaping the future of AI and creativity
Comprehensive health benefits, monthly stipends, and company retreats
Supportive, collaborative office culture—we’re all building and launching together.