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How to Actually Get Hired
Who reads applications, which channel gets a reply, and what they screen for.
Don't make these mistakes
Don't approach Runway as purely an ML shop. They care deeply about creative tools and artist empowerment. Cris cares about aesthetics. Treating video generation as 'just another AI problem' misses the mark.
What gets their attention
The employee to find on LinkedIn is Anastasis Germanidis (CTO), he's the most technically rigorous of the three founders and has been the one posting publicly about world model research. Engaging with his research notes before reaching out is the most effective warm approach.
Why applying the normal way doesn't work
Runway is <50 people. No recruiter, no HR. Your application goes to a founder juggling everything. Cold outreach is how you actually get seen.
Who to contact at Runway
No verified contact route for Runway yet. Based on size (<50) and sector (B2B, Engineering, Product and Design), a founder or department head is likely the decision-maker, but treat this as a model.
Founding team
Cris is a Chilean immigrant who came to the US to study at NYU's ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program), described as 'an art school for engineers and an engineering school for artists.' He has said publicly that being an immigrant was 'both a blessing and a curse', forcing resourcefulness, but adding bureaucratic friction. He continues to live in Brooklyn. He contributed to ml5.js, an open-source machine learning library built on top of TensorFlow.js, designed to make machine learning accessible to artists, creative coders, and educators. This is the origin of Runway's philosophical DNA: tools that make powerful technology accessible to non-technical creators. He worked with Daniel Shiffman (the creator of The Coding Train YouTube channel, a beloved resource for creative coders) at NYU's ITP. He was named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI in September 2023. He gave a Bloomberg interview in October 2024. He has actively thought and written about the 'camera' metaphor for AI - that AI is a new kind of camera that creates a new art form, just as cinema created a seventh art form. That's his philosophical North Star. For Computer Vision / World Model Researchers: Reference the ml5.js contribution and the ITP research philosophy, that tools should democratise access to powerful methods. Frame your research background in terms of 3D understanding, physics-based simulation, or video diffusion, not just image generation. If you've worked on NeRFs, Gaussian splatting, or similar spatial representations, that's directly relevant to world models. Cris is an open-source contributor himself, a public GitHub profile with relevant work matters here. For Enterprise Account Executives (gaming/robotics/media): Runway is expanding into robotics, gaming, and media in parallel. If you have enterprise relationships in any of these verticals, name the specific companies and deal types. The Adobe partnership means enterprise sales reps who've sold into creative agencies or post-production studios have a natural entry. For Creative/Brand Roles: Cris has described Runway as 'full-stack' - they build their own brand, visuals, and culture. He cares about aesthetics. Show a portfolio. The company ran their own AI Film Festival. Demonstrating that you understand both the technology and the creative output is how you stand out.
What Runway screens for
The employee to find on LinkedIn is Anastasis Germanidis (CTO), he's the most technically rigorous of the three founders and has been the one posting publicly about world model research. Engaging with his research notes before reaching out is the most effective warm approach.
Customize your CV for the Runway role. Matching the job description language helps clear ATS filters.
Mistakes that kill applications
Generic CVs stand out at a <50-person company — and not in a good way. Fastest path to rejection.
Don't open with what you want. Open with what Runway is dealing with right now — The creative industry disruption is the most visible effect and the least interesting one in the long run, and what you'd do about it.
The wait-and-hope strategy fails. Follow up on day five — response rates roughly double.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply to Runway?
Through the roles on our Runway jobs page, or directly to a founder or department head if you can reach them. At <50 people, direct outreach outperforms the form.
Does Runway respond to cold emails?
Response rate data for Runway not yet confirmed.
Who is the hiring manager at Runway?
At this size, hiring is usually run by a founder or department head.
What ATS does Runway use?
Runway uses Greenhouse.
How competitive is it to get hired at Runway?
Expect 50-100 applicants in the first two weeks for B2B, Engineering, Product and Design roles at this size. Apply within 72 hours for best odds.
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