
Formal Verification Engineer at Harmonic (Palo Alto, CA)
Harmonic· Palo Alto, CA·
Role details
Job description
About Harmonic
At Harmonic, we are building a mathematical reasoning engine that operates with absolute precision. While most AI makes maximum-likelihood guesses, Harmonic's Aristotle uses Lean 4 and reinforcement learning to verify its reasoning and results.
Following our Gold Medal-level performance on the 2025 International Math Olympiad (IMO) and the successful resolution of long-standing open problems, we are proving that AI can master the most rigorous domains of human thought. Backed by some of the world’s most prominent investors, we are intentionally scaling an elite technical team.
Visit our company blog to learn more about what we are working on!
About the Role
We are seeking a Formal Verification Engineer to verify production hardware and software with Aristotle, our formal reasoning agent. In this role, you will work with customers to scope requirements, define properties, execute formal proofs, and deliver reproducible workflows while feeding insights back to product and research. We are looking for a rigorous problem-solver with expertise in formal verification that can adapt readily based on customer requirements and expand the boundaries of Aristotle to push it further.
Key Responsibilities
- Translate design intent into precise properties, utilize Aristotle intensively to execute formal proofs, and accurately diagnose verification failures.
- Manage project scope and technical risk while maintaining direct, clear communication with customers
- Quickly develop a comprehensive technical understanding of complex production-ready code, often across new or unfamiliar domains
- Identify and analyze the critical properties customer teams need proved, translating business-critical requirements into clear, targeted formal specifications
- Work with the product team to improve Aristotle based on observations in the field
- Travel to customer sites on behalf of the company
Minimum Qualifications
- BS in Computer Science, Mathematics, a related field, or equivalent industry experience
- Direct experience in hardware verification, software verification, or interactive theorem proving (ITP)
- Demonstrated ability to independently navigate complex concepts, manage risks and deadlines autonomously
- Ability to calibrate communication seamlessly depending on the audience, from deep technical discussions to high-level value justifications and education for customers
- Proficiency and practical experience with at least one proof assistant (e.g., Lean, Coq, Isabelle, Agda) and a strong foundation in formal methods and mathematical logic
- Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, C++, Matlab, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field
- Lean 4 expertise or strong fluency in another proof assistant
- Experience applying formal verification methods to real-world industrial or commercial systems
- Proven track record of high-caliber research demonstrated by publications, patents, or software contributions
- Contributions to open-source projects or development of software tools in the field
What We Offer
- Unlimited PTO
- 401(k) matching
- 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits for employees and 50% coverage for dependents. Harmonic offers varied health coverage options to select what is best for you and your family.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) available for qualifying health plans
Equal Opportunity Statement
Harmonic is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
Why work at Harmonic
- Mission‑driven work: Contribute to AI safety and fundamental science – building AI that can be trusted because its reasoning is provably correct.
- Cutting‑edge technical challenges: Work on low‑level RL systems, formal theorem proving, and distributed training at scale. The team operates like a commercial research lab with high ownership. harmonic.fun/careers
- Strong talent density: Team includes researchers and engineers from Meta, Anthropic, Perimeter Institute, UC Berkeley, Stanford – a fast‑growing, high‑caliber group. linkedin.com/company/harmonicmath
- Location & flexibility: Based in Palo Alto, CA (headquarters) with a second office in the UK. Job postings list “Palo Alto” as location – likely primarily in‑office. harmonic.fun/careers
- Growth trajectory: Rapidly scaling startup ($295M raised, 41.9% headcount growth) offering early‑employee impact and career growth.