AI Operator - Research Programs

ABOUT DISTYL AI Distyl is an applied AI technology company partnering with the world’s most ambitious institutions to rearchitect critical operations for the frontier of AI. Our customers include the largest companies in telecom, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, consumer goods, and global social organizations. We research and deploy technologies that power AI-native operations — both for our partners and for Distyl itself. Our work spans research into self-constructing systems, the development of the most reliable execution of AI systems, and products that transform mission-critical workflows. As a result, Distyl's technologies affect some of the world's largest operations — from hundreds of millions of consumer interactions to tens of millions of supply chain transactions and millions of patient journeys. Distyl is backed by leading investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Coatue, DST Global, and the board-members of 20+ F500s. The results reflect this approach: a 100% production deployment success rate for our customers and one of the few enterprise AI companies to run a profitable business. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Distyl deploys production AI into some of the most complex operating environments in the world — and does it in weeks. That requires people who move without getting stuck, own outcomes without being asked, and treat ambiguity as a problem to solve, not a reason to slow down.   At Distyl, AI Operators are chaos wranglers — the force multipliers embedded wherever the work is hardest. This role sits inside Distyl's core business functions: revenue operations, platform delivery, and research programs. You own the operating rhythm, enforce accountability, and close the gap between ambition and execution.   The AI Operator thrives here. They are deeply engaged — in the meeting, in the data, in the problem — never hovering above it. They hold themselves and their teams accountable without needing a title to do it.   You'll partner with research and engineering leadership to ensure programs ship with velocity and accountability. This is the operational force behind research execution — ensuring goals are clear, progress is visible, and deadlines carry weight. You will track OKRs, remove blockers, and drive the operating rhythm across some of the most technically ambitious work at the company.   If you hold yourself and others to an uncompromising standard, thrive in intensity, and are energized by complexity rather than daunted by it — this role was built for you.   KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Enforce Operational Rigor: Ensure goals are clear and commitments are kept. A program doesn't ship until success is defined, ownership is clear, and risk is understood - Drive Stakeholder Alignment: Navigate executive, technical, and business stakeholders with confidence. Provide clear, honest reporting on program status and surface risks before they become problems - Operate at Maximum Velocity: Keep programs moving in fast-changing environments. Adapt quickly when priorities shift without losing momentum or dropping balls - Operate as an AI-Native: You don't just champion AI — you use it. You stay on top of the latest models and tools, reinvent your own workflows continuously, and push your teams to do the same - Write the Playbook: Author best practices for running high-performance programs at scale. Distyl AI Operators should be the envy of the industry   WHO YOU ARE - A Chaos Wrangler: You bring order to ambiguity without slowing things down. You identify what's unclear, make it clear, and keep the program moving. - A Background That Proves It: There is no single path to this role. The strongest candidates have come from places where the job was to own hard outcomes under pressure — Founders, Chiefs of Staff, COOs, Delivery Managers, and operators from high-intensity environments. What matters is the pattern: you have shipped, wrangled, and delivered at scale - Accountable: You hold yourself and your teams to a high bar. Missed deadlines have explanations and plans — not excuses. - A Strong Communicator Across All Levels: You switch seamlessly between technical deep-dives with engineers and high-level strategic conversations with executives - A Raiser of the Bar: You have seen what excellence looks like at scale — and you use that benchmark to raise the operating cadence of every team you join. You don't just know what good looks like in theory; you've lived it, and you won't accept less - Comfortable in Chaos: You thrive in fast-moving environments where priorities shift and the path forward isn't always clear. You find the path anyway - AI-Native, Not Just AI-Curious: You actively use frontier AI tools in your daily work and have a track record of reinventing your own workflows as the technology evolves. You have strong opinions about what's changing fast, and you hold yourself and your teams to the standard of staying ahead of it — not catching up to it - Travel: Expect ~20% travel.   WHAT WE OFFER - The base salary range for this role is $140K – $200K, depending on experience, location, and level. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for [if sales, add commission], meaningful equity, along with a comprehensive benefits package - 100% covered medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents - 401(k) with additional perks (e.g., commuter benefits, in‑office lunch) - Access to state‑of‑the‑art models, generous usage of modern AI tools, and real‑world business problems - Ownership of high‑impact projects across top enterprises - A mission‑driven, fast‑moving culture that prizes curiosity, pragmatism, and excellence Distyl has offices in San Francisco and New York. This role follows a hybrid collaboration model with 3+ days per week (Tuesday–Thursday) in‑office.   #LI-Hybrid We believe diverse perspectives make our work stronger and more impactful. We are an equal opportunity employer and evaluate all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.