TL;DR
Clearspace, a YC W23 startup building tools to limit compulsive phone use, is recruiting an ML-focused research engineer to train and deploy models that classify network traffic. The full-time, on-site role in San Francisco offers $150K–$200K and 0.50%–1.00% equity and requires experience with sequential/time-series models.
What happened
Clearspace, a five-person company founded in 2022 and part of Y Combinator’s W23 batch, posted a full-time opening for an ML-focused research engineer. The hire will be responsible for implementing and improving a production model that classifies network traffic, developing tooling to collect training data, and working directly with the founders to set research direction. The company describes its product as an agent that processes and filters network traffic using natural-language rules to help people reduce compulsive phone usage. Candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, experience training production-grade sequential models—especially on time-series data—and be willing to work on-site in San Francisco. Compensation is listed at $150,000–$200,000 plus 0.50%–1.00% equity. Preferred but optional qualifications include prior work specific to network traffic and graduate research experience.
Why it matters
- The role targets a core technical problem—classifying network traffic—that underpins Clearspace’s attention-protection product.
- Hiring for production-grade sequential models signals the company is moving from prototype research toward deployable systems.
- On-site, founder-level collaboration suggests the position will influence product research direction and data strategy.
Key facts
- Position: Research Engineer (ML) focused on network-traffic classification.
- Compensation: $150,000–$200,000 base salary and 0.50%–1.00% equity.
- Employment: Full-time, onsite in San Francisco; company requests US citizen/visa only.
- Experience requirement: 1+ years; must have trained production-grade sequential models, particularly on time-series data.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related engineering field required.
- Primary responsibilities: implement production model, create data-gathering tooling, define research direction with founders, and work autonomously.
- Nice-to-have: specific experience with network traffic and graduate research experience.
- Company details: Founded in 2022, team size listed as five, YC W23 batch; founders named Royce Branning (cofounder & CEO) and Oliver Hill (founder).
- Product context: Clearspace builds an agent that filters network traffic via natural-language rules to reduce compulsive phone usage; its mobile app has been featured on Huberman Lab, New York Times Wirecutter, NPR Marketplace, Forbes, and TBPN.
What to watch next
- Performance and accuracy of the deployed traffic-classification model as it is iterated in production.
- not confirmed in the source
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Network traffic: Data packets and communication flows transmitted across a network between devices and servers.
- Sequential model: A machine learning model designed to process sequence-structured inputs such as time-series or text, where order matters.
- Time-series data: Data points indexed by time, used to model and predict temporal patterns and trends.
- Equity: A share of ownership in a company often offered to employees as part of compensation.
- On-site: A work arrangement that requires employees to be physically present at the company’s office location.
Reader FAQ
What is the role focused on?
Training and deploying a production model to classify network traffic, plus building data-gathering tooling and shaping research direction with the founders.
What are the salary and equity details?
$150,000–$200,000 base salary and 0.50%–1.00% equity as listed in the posting.
Is remote work allowed?
The posting states candidates must be willing to work onsite in San Francisco.
Does the company sponsor visas?
The listing specifies 'US citizen/visa only.'
How do I apply?
not confirmed in the source
AboutCompaniesStartup JobsFind a Co-FounderLibrarySAFEResources Apply Clearspace Eliminate compulsive phone usage Research Engineer at Clearspace $150K – $200K • 0.50% – 1.00% • San Francisco, CA, US Job type Full-time Role…
Sources
- Clearspace (YC W23) Is Hiring an Applied Researcher (ML)
- Research Engineer at Clearspace …
- Research Engineer at Clearspace
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