--- title: 'Prototype Researcher at Runway' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/prototype-researcher-runway-remote-12t7kg8n85d8' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-13' --- # Prototype Researcher at Runway - **Company:** Runway - **Location:** Remote - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** remote - **Posted:** 2026-10-12 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-13 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/runway-ml/d8afa330-e713-4a2d-833b-cd2e4c6e0fcc ## Job description We are building AI to simulate the world through merging art and science. We believe that world models are at the frontier of progress in artificial intelligence. Language models alone won’t solve the world’s hardest problems – robotics, disease, scientific discovery. Real progress requires models that experience the world and learn from their mistakes, the same way that humans do. And this kind of trial and error can be massively accelerated when done in simulation, rather than in the real world. World models offer the most clear path to general-purpose simulation, changing how stories are told, how scientific progress is made and how the next frontiers of humanity are reached. Our team consists of creative, open minded, caring and ambitious people who are determined to change the world. We aspire to continuously build impossible things and our ability to do so relies on building an incredible team. If you are driven to do the same, we'd love to hear from you. ## About the role *Open to hiring remote across the US — we also have offices in New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. We are looking for a Prototype Researcher to join Runway Labs — our research and exploration team pushing the frontier of AI video and General World Models. You’ll imagine, design, and build experimental experiences that make emerging AI capabilities tangible and communicate a compelling vision for where the technology is heading. This role combines creative thinking, hands-on prototyping, and storytelling. You should be able to develop an original idea, build a working prototype, and shape it into a clear, memorable demonstration. Your work will help people understand new AI systems through experiences they can see, use, and engage with. Working closely with researchers, engineers, and designers, you’ll explore new interfaces and interaction paradigms for AI-generated video, world models, and agentic systems. The focus is on research explorations that express our vision, reveal new possibilities, and strengthen Runway’s position as a full-stack research organization. We’re looking for a motivated self-starter with strong creative judgment, technical fluency, and a portfolio that shows both what you can build and how well you can communicate an idea. ## What you’ll do - Develop original concepts that explore the possibilities of emerging AI systems, from interactive video and world models to agentic experiences. - Design and build working prototypes that turn research capabilities into engaging, understandable experiences. - Shape each project’s story: what it explores, why it matters, and what it suggests about the future. - Package explorations into polished demos, films, and interactive experiences that communicate our research and vision. - Collaborate with researchers and engineers to understand new capabilities and identify compelling ways to demonstrate them. - Move quickly through experimentation, using prototypes to test ideas and refine both the experience and its narrative. ## What you’ll need - A portfolio of original projects that demonstrates creative thinking, design craft, technical execution, and strong storytelling. - The ability to take an idea from an early concept to a working prototype and a compelling presentation. - Hands-on experience building interactive experiences with code, with the judgment to choose the right tools for each experiment. - Strong visual and interaction design skills, with an eye for detail and an instinct for making complex ideas accessible. - Genuine curiosity about AI video, world models, agentic systems, and emerging generative media. - Comfort working in ambiguous research environments, defining your own direction, and learning new tools as the work evolves. - The ability to explain the purpose and potential of your work clearly, through writing, visuals, demos, or film. Runway strives to recruit and retain exceptional talent from diverse backgrounds while ensuring pay equity for our team. Our salary ranges are based on competitive market rates for our size, stage and industry, and salary is just one part of the overall compensation package we provide. There are many factors that go into salary determinations, including relevant experience, skill level and qualifications assessed during the interview process, and maintaining internal equity with peers on the team. The range shared below is a general expectation for the function as posted, but we are also open to considering candidates who may be more or less experienced than outlined in the job description. In this case, we will communicate any updates in the expected salary range. Lastly, the provided range is the expected salary for candidates in the U.S. Outside of those regions, there may be a change in the range, which again, will be communicated to candidates. Working at Runway [Great things come from great teams.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwmj4ato2kw&ab_channel=Runway) We’d love to hear from you. We’re committed to creating a space where our employees can bring their full selves to work and have equal opportunity to succeed. So regardless of race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, origin, ability, age, veteran status, if joining this mission speaks to you, we encourage you to apply. More about Runway - [Universal World Simulator](https://runwayml.com/world-simulator.html) - [GWM-1](https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gwm-1) - [Gen-4.5](https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gen-4.5) - [General World Models](https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-general-world-models) - [Robotics SDK](https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gwm-1#robotics-section) - [Conversational Real-time Agents](https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gwm-1#avatars-section) - [Runway Studios](https://runwayml.com/studios) We're excited to be recognized as a best place to work: [Crain's](https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/best-places-work-2023) | [InHerSight](https://www.inhersight.com/companies/best/city/new-york-city-ny) | [BuiltIn NYC](https://builtin.com/awards/new-york-city/2024/best-places-to-work) | [INC](https://www.inc.com/best-workplaces/2024) ## About Runway ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Runway builds artificial intelligence to simulate the world, focusing on general world models for video generation, robotics, and interactive experiences. - **Entity Type**: Private (Corporate Minority funding stage; total raised $859.5M) - **Headquarters**: New York, New York, United States (79 Walker Street, Floor 5) - **Founded**: 2018 - **Founders**: Not publicly listed on provided sources (widely reported as Cristóbal Valenzuela, Anastasis Germanidis, and Alejandro Matamala) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Artificial Intelligence, Video Generation, World Simulation, Robotics - **Target customers**: B2B – media & entertainment, film production, architecture, robotics research; also creative professionals and enterprises - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Building AI to simulate the world through merging art and science." – Runway believes world models are the path to general-purpose simulation, enabling progress in robotics, disease research, and scientific discovery. ## Products & Services - **[Gen-4.5](https://runwayml.com/)**: World's top-rated video generation model – cinematic, highly realistic outputs with precise creative control (SaaS / API). - **[GWM-1](https://runwayml.com/)**: State-of-the-art General World Model for real-time simulation. Three variants: - **GWM Worlds**: Interactive, explorable environments. - **GWM Avatars**: Real-time conversational video agents (API) – customizable appearance, voice, personality, knowledge, and actions. - **GWM Robotics**: Learned world models for robotic manipulation and physical interaction simulation. - **Runway Studios**: Production arm exploring AI integration in film (announced partnership with Lionsgate). ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – $859.5M (as of latest Corporate Minority round) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: NVIDIA (strategic partnership on Vera Rubin architecture), Lionsgate (film production partnership), General Atlantic, Felicis, Fidelity Investments, and 36+ others. - **Growth Signals**: - Partnership with NVIDIA to accelerate video and world models. - Partnership with Lionsgate to explore AI in film production. - Gen-4.5 recognized as top-rated video model. - Launch of GWM-1 (three variants) expanding into robotics and conversational AI. - Used by leading organizations across industries (e.g., architecture firm KPF). ## Competitive Advantages - **General World Models (GWM-1)**: Unlike pure language models, Runway builds models that understand, perceive, generate, and act in the world – a clear moat for simulation and robotics. - **Real-time interactivity**: GWM Worlds and Avatars enable real-time, controllable simulation and conversation, differentiating from static video generation. - **Full-stack AI platform**: From video generation (Gen-4.5) to world simulation (GWM-1) to production studios, Runway covers the entire creative-to-simulation pipeline. - **Strong research culture**: Long-term research effort to build AI systems that understand visual world dynamics. ## Strategic Focus - Continue advancing General World Models for universal simulation. - Expand partnerships in entertainment (Lionsgate), robotics (NVIDIA), and architecture (KPF). - Grow the platform’s adoption across industries requiring simulation, creative content, and autonomous agents. - Scale the team globally (offices in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, London, Tel Aviv, Tokyo) with remote flexibility. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: "Creative, open minded, caring and ambitious people determined to change the world." Merges art and science – ideal for researchers, engineers, artists, and designers. - **Remote/Hybrid**: Global remote team; offices in 6 cities. Employees outside 10-mile commuting distance can expense co-working, internet, phone, and lunches (up to $250/month); within commuting distance get $50/month phone reimbursement. - **Benefits**: - 100% medical, dental, vision coverage for US employees and dependents (plus mental health and One Medical membership). - Unlimited PTO (recommended min 15 days) + paid sabbatical at 3, 5, and 7 years. - 16 weeks fully paid parental leave (all parents) with gradual return-to-work plan. - 3% 401k match (US employees). - $600 annual wellness stipend; $600 annual learning stipend; $500 tech setup stipend. - Annual travel budget for in-person collaboration, conferences, and company events. - Quarterly community donation program. - **Recognition**: Best Places to Work NYC (2022–2024), Inc. Best Workplaces (2023), Built In Inclusive Workplace (2022, 2023), Crain’s Best Companies Group. ## Sources 1. [runwayml.com](https://runwayml.com/) 2. [Runway Careers](https://runwayml.com/careers) 3. [Runway About](https://runwayml.com/about) 4. [CB Insights – Runway Profile](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/runwayml) 5. [Greenhouse Job Board](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/runwayml) ## Other roles at Runway - [Copywriter, Product Marketing](https://feeny.ai/job/copywriter-product-marketing-runway-remote-vs0q68tf0bf8) - [Senior/Staff HRBP](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-hrbp-runway-remote-98fmx447tbqy) - [Senior HR Generalist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-hr-generalist-runway-remote-1vepm0re5b4n) - [Member of Technical Staff, ML Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/member-of-technical-staff-ml-platform-runway-remote-ckxgbmywh50d) - [Member of Product Staff, Agents](https://feeny.ai/job/member-of-product-staff-agents-runway-remote-t6cdjaxcz0fb) - [Mid-Market Account Executive, London](https://feeny.ai/job/mid-market-account-executive-london-runway-london-kaz84fvnpjyb) — London, United Kingdom - [Business Development Representative](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-runway-remote-sezftbexywt6) - [Support Representative, APAC](https://feeny.ai/job/support-representative-apac-runway-remote-xf7q0mx6y11n) - [Support Representative, London](https://feeny.ai/job/support-representative-london-runway-remote-eqbbaknwjpsm) - [Marketing Manager, Partnerships](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-manager-partnerships-runway-remote-mj327a35j3wy)