We connect frontier AI researchers and engineers with work worth doing
A founder-led, data-driven talent search firm
We connect frontier AI researchers and engineers with work worth doing
A founder-led, data-driven talent search firm
We connect frontier AI researchers and engineers with work worth doing
A founder-led, data-driven talent search firm
We connect frontier AI researchers and engineers with work worth doing
A founder-led, data-driven talent search firm
Our thesis
Frontier AI hiring is harder than it needs to be
Compensation Asymmetry
Compensation Asymmetry
Compensation misalignment often surfaces at the final stage, when both sides are most invested. We know what packages actually look like across labs, seniority levels, and specialisations, so expectations are set correctly from the start.
Compensation misalignment often surfaces at the final stage, when both sides are most invested. We know what packages actually look like across labs, seniority levels, and specialisations, so expectations are set correctly from the start.
Knowledge Gap
Knowledge Gap
The frontier AI talent pool is smaller and more nuanced than it appears. We understand the work deeply enough to know who's right for an opportunity, and which opportunities are right for the people we work with.
The frontier AI talent pool is smaller and more nuanced than it appears. We understand the work deeply enough to know who's right for an opportunity, and which opportunities are right for the people we work with.
Access Gap
Access Gap
The most in-demand frontier AI talent rarely surfaces on the open market, and the most ambitious opportunities rarely get posted. With 3,500+ hours exclusively in the space, our relationships connect the right people to the right roles.
The most in-demand frontier AI talent rarely surfaces on the open market, and the most ambitious opportunities rarely get posted. With 3,500+ hours exclusively in the space, our relationships connect the right people to the right roles.
Our thesis
Frontier AI hiring is harder than it needs to be
Compensation Asymmetry
Compensation misalignment often surfaces at the final stage, when both sides are most invested. We know what packages actually look like across labs, seniority levels, and specialisations, so expectations are set correctly from the start.
Knowledge Gap
The frontier AI talent pool is smaller and more nuanced than it appears. We understand the work deeply enough to know who's right for an opportunity, and which opportunities are right for the people we work with.
Access Gap
The most in-demand frontier AI talent rarely surfaces on the open market, and the most ambitious opportunities rarely get posted. With 3,500+ hours exclusively in the space, our relationships connect the right people to the right roles.
How we work
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our experience
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our experience making placements
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our experience
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our experience making placements
Two ways to work with Thayon, both backed by 3,500+ hours in the frontier AI talent market and our
experience making placements from
making placements from
from
experience making placements from
making placements from
from
DeepMind
FAIR
Cohere
Nvidia
DeepMind
FAIR
Cohere
Nvidia
Embedded
A retained partnership that adds Thayon as an extension of your team. We maintain a deep presence in the frontier AI research community, connecting you with researchers and engineers your team hasn't yet reached.
Embedded
A retained partnership that adds Thayon as an extension of your team. We maintain a deep presence in the frontier AI research community, connecting you with researchers and engineers your team hasn't yet reached.
Search
A focused engagement for a specific requirement. Thayon operates on success, bringing the full weight of our network and market knowledge to a single critical hire.
Search
A focused engagement for a specific requirement. Thayon operates on success, bringing the full weight of our network and market knowledge to a single critical hire.
Track record
Track record
What we learned in the field
What we learned in the field
Research Engineer
From DeepMind
A complex, high-bar mandate. Placed.
120+
Conversations
5
Cleared bar
21
Months
Intelligence
L3–L8 comp analysis across labs and startups
Competing lab hiring and retention structures
Research Engineer
From DeepMind
A complex, high-bar mandate. Placed.
120+
Conversations
5
Cleared bar
21
Months
Intelligence
L3–L8 comp analysis across labs and startups
Competing lab hiring and retention structures
Research Engineer
From Cohere
First submission, perfect fit. Placed within a month.
27
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
1
Month
Intelligence
Lab tier and research pedigree mapping
Candidate motivations and timing windows
Research Engineer
First submission, perfect fit. Placed within a month.
27
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
1
Month
Intelligence
Lab tier and research pedigree mapping
Candidate motivations and timing windows
Inference Engineer
From Moonvalley
The most contested hire in frontier AI right now. We delivered.
24
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
3
Months
Intelligence
Inference specialization mapping across labs
Candidate timing and mission alignment
Inference Engineer
From Moonvalley
The most contested hire in frontier AI right now. We delivered.
24
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
3
Months
Intelligence
Inference specialization mapping across labs
Candidate timing and mission alignment
Research Engineer
From DeepMind
A complex, high-bar mandate. Placed.
120+
Conversations
5
Cleared bar
21
Months
Intelligence
L3–L8 comp analysis across labs and startups
Competing lab hiring and retention structures
Research Engineer
From Cohere
First submission, perfect fit. Placed within a month.
27
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
1
Month
Intelligence
Lab tier and research pedigree mapping
Candidate motivations and timing windows
Inference Engineer
From Moonvalley
The most contested hire in frontier AI right now. We delivered.
24
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
3
Months
Intelligence
Inference specialization mapping across labs
Candidate timing and mission alignment
Research Engineer
From DeepMind
Research Engineer
From Cohere
Inference Engineer
From Moonvalley
Research Engineer
From DeepMind
A complex, high-bar mandate. Placed.
120+
Conversations
5
Cleared bar
21
Months
Intelligence
L3–L8 comp analysis across labs and startups
Competing lab hiring and retention structures
Research Engineer
From Cohere
First submission, perfect fit. Placed within a month.
27
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
1
Month
Intelligence
Lab tier and research pedigree mapping
Candidate motivations and timing windows
Inference Engineer
From Moonvalley
The most contested hire in frontier AI right now. We delivered.
24
Conversations
1st
Offer accepted
3
Months
Intelligence
Inference specialization mapping across labs
Candidate timing and mission alignment
Meet the founder
Joe Nyiri
Joe Nyiri
I left an executive search firm two years ago to build something deeply embedded in the frontier AI talent market. Depth over speed. Relationships over transactions. Intelligence over volume. One of the researchers I placed told me it was the best job he'd ever had. For me it's about the relationships, the discovery, and finding the person everyone said didn't exist.
I left an executive search firm two years ago to build something deeply embedded in the frontier AI talent market. Depth over speed. Relationships over transactions. Intelligence over volume. One of the researchers I placed told me it was the best job he'd ever had. For me it's about the relationships, the discovery, and finding the person everyone said didn't exist.
"Joe has been an amazing recruiter. He really understands the field and roles he's recruiting for (very refreshing), and is very good at helping people understand if there is a fit or not."
"Joe has been an amazing recruiter. He really understands the field and roles he's recruiting for (very refreshing), and is very good at helping people understand if there is a fit or not."
"Joe has been an amazing recruiter. He really understands the field and roles he's recruiting for (very refreshing), and is very good at helping people understand if there is a fit or not."
— Large-scale Infra Engineer
— Large-scale Infra Engineer
Meet the founder
Joe Nyiri
I left an executive search firm two years ago to build something deeply embedded in the frontier AI talent market. Depth over speed. Relationships over transactions. Intelligence over volume. One of the researchers I placed told me it was the best job he'd ever had. For me it's about the relationships, the discovery, and finding the person everyone said didn't exist.
"Joe has been an amazing recruiter. He really understands the field and roles he's recruiting for (very refreshing), and is very good at helping people understand if there is a fit or not."
— Large-scale Infra Engineer
© 2026 Thayon Ltd. Registered in England & Wales: #15919823. ICO Registered, reference: ZB819711
© 2026 Thayon Ltd. Registered in England & Wales: #15919823. ICO Registered, reference: ZB819711
© 2026 Thayon Ltd. Registered in England & Wales: #15919823. ICO Registered, reference: ZB819711
© 2026 Thayon Ltd. Registered in England & Wales: #15919823. ICO Registered, reference: ZB819711