What are the responsibilities and job description for the Faculty Lead & Learning Engineer - Sciences position at Outsmart?
Outsmart is a mission-driven, early-stage startup reimagining higher education for the age of AI by creating an entirely new collegiate experience that expands access and opportunity. Backed by $38M from top venture firms including Khosla Ventures, Forerunner, DST Global Partners, and Lightspeed, the company is led by former Duolingo executives and a founding team that also includes Emmy Award winners. With a strong culture centered around high-impact, detail-oriented team members, Outsmart is already seeing significant traction, generating 1–5 million weekly organic views on social media.
About The Role
The Faculty Lead & Learning Engineer - Sciences is Outsmart’s designated faculty member for undergraduate science–owning course design, development, and quality–across biology, chemistry, physics, geology, etc. (intro through advanced topics). You’ll craft an engaging, rigorous, and fun science learning experience for students while setting the standard for science teaching in the AI era.
You’ll bring the depth of an academic and the instincts of a builder. That means leveraging AI and modern tooling to design high-quality curriculum, virtual labs, and assessments at scale — and collaborating closely with learning designers, product, and engineering to bring it to fruition.
Location: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, or Lehi, UT
Reporting: Works in close partnership with the Head of Academics & Learning Engineering and university academic leadership.
Qualities We're Seeking
About The Role
The Faculty Lead & Learning Engineer - Sciences is Outsmart’s designated faculty member for undergraduate science–owning course design, development, and quality–across biology, chemistry, physics, geology, etc. (intro through advanced topics). You’ll craft an engaging, rigorous, and fun science learning experience for students while setting the standard for science teaching in the AI era.
You’ll bring the depth of an academic and the instincts of a builder. That means leveraging AI and modern tooling to design high-quality curriculum, virtual labs, and assessments at scale — and collaborating closely with learning designers, product, and engineering to bring it to fruition.
Location: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, or Lehi, UT
Reporting: Works in close partnership with the Head of Academics & Learning Engineering and university academic leadership.
Qualities We're Seeking
- Deep disciplinary expertise in one or more core sciences; comfortable stewarding courses across the broader science portfolio
- Mastery of pedagogy, learning design, and assessment — and enthusiasm for AI-enabled teaching and learning
- Builder mindset: resourceful, high energy, accountable, mission driven, student-obsessed; thrives in early-stage environments
- Clear, direct communicator who collaborates well with designers, engineers, and product
- Own the science curriculum: Design and develop courses across biology, chemistry, physics, and geology (intro → advanced) with clear learning outcomes and mastery-based progress
- Design assessments (formative & summative)
- Leverage AI & tooling to create interactive content (e.g., a virtual science lab) that improves engagement and efficacy
- Collaborate with Learning Design, Product, and Engineering to ship high-quality, technology-enabled science experiences (simulations, visualizations, notebooks)
- Support accreditation & quality: Align syllabi, policies, credit hours, and outcomes with institutional standards; contribute evidence for reviews and continuous improvement
- Degree in a core science field (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology) or Science Education; PhD or EdD preferred
- 3 years teaching or leading curriculum in undergraduate science (online or hybrid experience a plus)
- Proven fluency with education technology and AI
- Track record of cross-functional collaboration with designers/engineers and shipping learner-centric features
- Competitive salary and equity
- Healthcare for you and your dependents (medical, dental, and vision)
- Parental leave for any full-time employee who has been with us for at least 6 months (birthing, non-birthing, and adoptive parents)
- 15 PTO days per year, a winter break, and 12 paid company holidays per year
- Remote work days
- Lunch provided in-office daily
- Working with super talented people who want to make a difference in the world