Machine Learning Tech Lead - Post-Training for AI Characters

About the Role At Starley , we’re creating Cotomo —a voice-based AI platform where users can form emotional bonds with anime and manga-inspired characters, including those voiced by real Japanese seiyuu in official collaborations. Cotomo is already one of Japan’s largest platforms of its kind, with over 1 million downloads . As we prepare to expand globally, we’re looking for a Team Lead in Machine Learning to help shape the core intelligence behind our characters. You’ll guide a small ML team and work across voice, character, and product to ensure Cotomo’s AI is expressive, consistent, and emotionally resonant. If you love anime , manga , or games —and want to bring that passion into your work—this is your chance. Responsibilities Lead post-training and alignment efforts for Cotomo’s LLM and voice models. Design systems that ensure personality, memory, and emotional depth. Collaborate across teams to turn research into production-ready features. Stay current with LLM/ASR/TTS research and apply advances meaningfully. Fluency in Japanese for daily communication Key Qualifications Hands-on experience with LLM post-training (SFT, LoRA, DPO, etc.). Strong coding skills in Python and ML frameworks like PyTorch. Experience leading or mentoring in ML teams. Product-focused mindset—ship fast, learn fast. Preferred Qualifications Deep interest in anime, manga, or games. Open-source or published work in ML/LLM/Voice. Background in persona modeling or interactive agents. Experience in fast-moving startups or R&D teams. Work Environment Based in our Akasaka, Tokyo office Primarily in-office with some remote flexibility Visa sponsorship Compensation & Benefits From ¥9,000,000 JPY/year , depending on experience Performance-based stock options