2026/2027 PhD Residency - Scientific ML (SciML) and Multiscale Physics (Early Stage Project)

X Development, LLC; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Benefits

Job summary

X Development, LLC in Mountain View invites PhD students to participate in an AI Residency internship focused on building advanced simulations and models for materials discovery and manufacturing.

You will be embedded in one of X's projects, work with SciML, PINNs, and high-performance tools like COMSOL/OpenFOAM, and receive competitive pay and benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD student actively enrolled in a PhD program.
• First-principles understanding of multiscale physics from CFD to particle modeling.
• Proven expertise in Scientific Machine Learning (SciML) and parameterizing complex physics into autodiff solvers.
• Practical familiarity with laboratory environments or instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Embed into one of X's projects and contribute to AI Residency goals.
• Develop advanced simulations and models for materials discovery and manufacturing challenges.
• Collaborate with a community of AI/ML Residents and attend tech talks.

Skills

SciML

PINNs

Neural Operators

ML for physics

Education

PhD student enrolled in a PhD program

Tools

COMSOL

OpenFOAM

SciML frameworks

Job description

Internship Mountain View, CA

How you will make 10x impact:

• Combining fluid dynamics and machine learning to solve some of the most important problems in materials discovery and manufacturing
• Working at the absolute forefront of simulation + experimentation, replacing computationally heavy, brute-force forward solvers with lean, physics-informed architectures

This project is focused on building advanced simulations and models along with custom equipment and processes to accelerate materials discovery and other critical manufacturing challenges.

• Location: X's headquarters in Mountain View, CA
• Duration: a flexible 6 mo. to 1 year program based on project team needs and your availability

Throughout your AI Residency you can expect:

• To be embedded into one of our confidential or public X projects
• To get paid competitively and receive benefits
• To be a part of a lively community of AI and ML Residents
• To attend tech-talks with AI leaders from across X

What you should have:

• Must be actively enrolled in a PhD program
• First-principles understanding of multiscale physics from continuous fluid dynamics to discrete particle modeling
• Proven expertise in Scientific Machine Learning (SciML), specifically the ability to parameterize unresolved or complex physics (e.g., phase coupling, closure terms) into autodifferentiable physics solvers and implement, optimize, and scale relevant SciML frameworks
• Practical familiarity with laboratory environments, physical instrumentation, or a strong, demonstrated inclination to tinker and build

It’d be great if you also had these:

• Direct experience with PINNs, Neural Operators, and traditional ML
• Proficiency in high-performance simulation tools (e.g., COMSOL, OpenFOAM)
• Track record of applying machine learning to complex physical systems (e.g., turbulence, multiphase flow, or inverse design)

The US base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $157,000 + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include benefits.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

At X, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.