Formal Verification Scientist (Lean 4 & Mathlib)
Posted Today by Alignerr
Negotiable
Undetermined
Remote
London, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The role of Formal Verification Scientist involves translating complex mathematical arguments into machine-verifiable formalizations using Lean 4, aimed at advancing AI research. This fully remote contract position is tailored for mathematicians who enjoy bridging rigorous proof with computer science. Candidates will engage in analyzing proofs, constructing formalizations, and collaborating with researchers to enhance verification pipelines. The position offers flexibility in hours and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects in a global team setting.
Key Responsibilities:
- Translate informal mathematical proofs into clean, structured Lean 4 formalizations with an emphasis on clarity, correctness, and reproducibility.
- Analyze domain-specific proofs to identify gaps, hidden assumptions, and formalizable sub-structures.
- Construct formalizations that test the limits of existing proof assistants.
- Investigate where automated provers break down and articulate the underlying reasons.
- Create Lean proofs that reveal deeper patterns or generalizations implicit in the original mathematics.
- Collaborate with researchers to design, refine, and evaluate strategies for improving formal verification pipelines.
- Provide guidance on proof decomposition, lemma selection, and structuring techniques for formal models.
Key Skills:
- Master's degree or higher in Mathematics, Logic, Theoretical Computer Science, or a closely related field.
- Strong foundation in rigorous proof writing across areas such as algebra, analysis, topology, logic, or discrete mathematics.
- Hands-on experience with Lean (Lean 3 or Lean 4), Coq, Isabelle/HOL, Agda, or comparable systems.
- Able to translate informal mathematical arguments into precise, well-structured formal proofs.
- Genuinely enthusiastic about formal verification, proof assistants, and the future of mechanized mathematics.
- Detail-oriented, methodical, and comfortable working independently in an async environment.
- Experience with large-scale formalization projects such as Mathlib is a plus.
- Familiarity with type theory, the Curry-Howard correspondence, and proof automation tools.
- Strong communication skills for explaining formalization decisions, edge cases, and reasoning strategies.
Salary (Rate): £170.00 hourly
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: remote
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
About The Role
What if your deep mathematical training could directly shape how AI reasons about proofs — and push the boundaries of what machines can verify? We're looking for Formal Verification Scientists to translate complex mathematical arguments into precise, machine-verifiable Lean 4 formalizations for cutting-edge AI research. This is a fully remote, flexible contract role designed for mathematicians who love working at the intersection of rigorous proof and computer science. If you find satisfaction in taking a dense, elegant argument and expressing it in a form a machine can understand — this role was built for you.
Organization: Alignerr
Type: Hourly Contract
Location: Remote
Commitment: 10–40 hours/week
What You'll Do
- Translate informal mathematical proofs into clean, structured Lean 4 formalizations with an emphasis on clarity, correctness, and reproducibility
- Analyze domain-specific proofs to identify gaps, hidden assumptions, and formalizable sub-structures
- Construct formalizations that test the limits of existing proof assistants — especially where tools struggle or fail
- Investigate where automated provers break down and articulate the underlying reasons (complexity, missing lemmas, insufficient libraries, etc.)
- Create Lean proofs that reveal deeper patterns or generalizations implicit in the original mathematics
- Collaborate with researchers to design, refine, and evaluate strategies for improving formal verification pipelines
- Provide guidance on proof decomposition, lemma selection, and structuring techniques for formal models
Who You Are
- Holds a Master's degree or higher in Mathematics, Logic, Theoretical Computer Science, or a closely related field
- Strong foundation in rigorous proof writing across areas such as algebra, analysis, topology, logic, or discrete mathematics
- Hands-on experience with Lean (Lean 3 or Lean 4), Coq, Isabelle/HOL, Agda, or comparable systems — Lean strongly preferred
- Able to translate informal mathematical arguments into precise, well-structured formal proofs
- Genuinely enthusiastic about formal verification, proof assistants, and the future of mechanized mathematics
- Detail-oriented, methodical, and comfortable working independently in an async environment
Nice to Have
- Experience with large-scale formalization projects such as Mathlib
- Familiarity with type theory, the Curry-Howard correspondence, and proof automation tools
- Exposure to theorem provers where automated reasoning frequently fails or requires manual scaffolding
- Prior experience with data annotation, data quality, or evaluation systems
- Strong communication skills for explaining formalization decisions, edge cases, and reasoning strategies
Why Join Us
- Work on cutting-edge AI research projects alongside leading AI labs
- Fully remote and flexible — work when and where it suits you
- Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, intellectually stimulating work
- Contribute directly to mapping the frontier of what formal verification can express, capture, and automate
- Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch
- Collaborate with a global team of researchers and mathematicians pushing the limits of AI and formal reasoning