Call for Founding Heads of R&D Labs

Join to apply for the Call for Founding Heads of R&D Labs role at AI4I.

***This opportunity is located in Turin, Italy***

Arrangements for hybrid work can be negotiated.

Deadline: February 28, 2026, 11:59 PM CET.

About Our R&D Labs

AI4I seeks talented Heads of R&D Laboratories to lead the next generation of AI research and development in AI‑driven industries. We welcome applications from researchers working across a wide range of AI domains—Symbolic, Generative, Agentic, and Physical AI—as well as frontier research areas such as causality, neuro‑symbolic AI, self‑supervised learning, and AI for scientific discovery. They will explore frontier questions and drive transformational applications at scale.

R&D Labs operate at the convergence of foundational research and real‑world deployment (TRL 2 to TRL 6) and support short‑ and long‑term innovation across strategic application domains, including manufacturing, robotics, engineering, product development, software development and testing, autonomous and decision systems, and new material discovery.

What We Offer

• A renewable 4-year appointment, with a pathway to a permanent position based on performance (KPIs and targets).
• An internationally competitive compensation package, enhanced by substantial incentive schemes, ensuring outstanding take‑home pay considering cost of living and dedicated tax benefits.
• A start‑up grant comparable in scale to an ERC Starting Grant, directly managed by the Lab Head.
• Tax exemption of up to 90% for eligible researchers relocating to Italy.
• Relocation support available for successful candidates.

Head of R&D Lab – Role Overview

As the Head of an R&D Lab, you will design, establish, and lead one of the Institute’s core research laboratories. You will be responsible for defining the R&D plan for your lab: setting a long‑term vision and short‑ to long‑term goals; attracting world‑class talent; delivering scientific and technological breakthroughs; and positioning AI4I as a world‑leading center for AI research and innovation. With support from the Institute’s core functions and engineering infrastructure, your responsibilities will include the following.

• Scientific and Strategic Leadership: Designing cutting‑edge AI research & development programs and solutions, meeting milestones, and achieving defined success metrics.
• Team Building: Leading a team of AI researchers and engineers to execute advanced research and develop practical software or platforms.
• Outreach: Collaborating with marketing and business development teams to promote AI4I and expand its reach and influence.
• Revenue Generation: Attracting external funding from private and public sources to support lab growth, including EU programs and strategic industry partnerships.
• Project Management: Managing multiple projects simultaneously, establishing schedules, and resolving bottlenecks to ensure smooth execution.
• AI Assets Development: Overseeing the creation and maintenance of reusable frameworks, libraries, and APIs aligned with industry needs.

Key Success Metrics

• Scientific Production: Delivering high‑quality, peer‑reviewed research with international visibility and impact across AI and its industrial applications.
• Revenue Growth: Securing external funding and building strong industrial relationships.
• Innovation: Driving IP creation and adoption of cutting‑edge AI solutions.
• Managerial Proficiency: Delivering all lab projects on time, within budget, and to agreed service levels.

Qualifications We Are Looking For

• Strong track record in AI research and development, with a deep understanding of methods and architectures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary R&D programs, from design to implementation.
• Ability to interact across academic, industrial, and institutional settings.
• Experience applying AI in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, human‑machine interaction, or software development.

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD in a relevant field.
• Previous leadership roles in R&D centres.
• Proven experience as a founder or co‑founder of an innovative startup.
• Experience in European R&D programs or public‑private consortia.
• Ownership of patents or copyrights in AI or related industrial applications.

How To Apply

Submit your application exclusively through the online form by February 28, 2026, 11:59 PM CET.

• CV
• Scientific and Technological Plan for the Lab (max. 2,000 words) including:
  • Proposed name for the lab.
  • Scientific and technical focus.
  • Scientific and applied objectives.
  • Core competencies and core value proposition; measurable targets.
  • Composition of the lab (human resources and other assets), with estimated costs.
  • Expected sources and amount of revenue or funding over the next 4 years, beyond the initial budget.
• Contact information of three academic or professional references.
• Optional: Patents, publications, or code repository (e.g. GitHub) links.

Diversity & Equal Opportunity

AI4I is committed to building diverse, inclusive teams and is an equal‑opportunity employer. Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Methodological Areas

• Foundational Models
• Algorithmic Research
• Machine and Deep Learning
• Computer Vision
• Edge AI, TinyML, and Embedded AI
• Explainable AI
• Safe AI
• Federated, Parallel & Distributed Computing/Learning
• Control Systems
• Optimization
• Planning and Scheduling
• Human‑Machine Interaction
• Software Development
• AI Agents
• Physics‑informed Machine Learning
• Synthetic Data
• Digital Twins

Application Domains

• Predictive Maintenance
• Autonomous Systems
• Decision Systems
• Industrial Automation and Robotics
• Quality and Process Control
• Software Development for Industrial Applications
• Logistics and Supply Chain
• Complex Systems
• Cybersecurity and Business Continuity for Industrial Applications
• Aerospace Systems
• Product and Process Design, including model‑based systems engineering and the digital thread
• Advanced Materials: AI‑driven materials design and discovery
• Scientific Discovery, leveraging AI for automated experimentation and inverse design
• Technology Assessment, leveraging AI to evaluate emerging technologies, e.g., in healthcare

About Us

The Italian Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI4I) was founded as a research institute to perform transformative, application‑oriented research in Artificial Intelligence, driving innovation and industrial progress. The Institute is designed to engage and empower gifted, entrepreneurial, and ambitious researchers who are committed to generating real‑world impact at the intersection of science, technology, and industrial transformation.