AI Foundations - Research Scientist

IBM; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Research is seeking a highly skilled Research Scientist to lead cutting-edge AI projects across deep learning, reinforcement learning, and lifelong learning. Work includes developing algorithms, proving properties, and embedding research into usable systems for scalable impact.

You will communicate findings through publications in premier conferences and journals, collaborating with engineers and scientists to advance the inference stack used by modern AI models.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of AI/ML foundations and mathematical evaluation methods.
• Proven ability to publish research in top conferences and journals.
• Hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks and GPU programming.
• Experience designing and proving properties of formal systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI projects in deep learning, reinforcement learning, and lifelong learning.
• Develop and prove mathematical properties of algorithms and evaluate their impact on user experiences.
• Embed research algorithms in usable systems for practical deployment.
• Communicate research findings through publications in top conferences and journals.

Skills

Deep AI/ML fundamentals

Research communication

GPU programming

Formal verification

Education

Doctorate Degree

Job description

At IBM Research, we are the innovation engine of IBM. Exploring what’s next in computing and shaping the technologies the world will rely on tomorrow. From advancing AI and hybrid cloud to pioneering practical quantum computing, we anticipate challenges and unlock new opportunities for clients, partners, and society. Working in Research means joining a team that accelerates discovery at the intersection of high‑performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. You’ll collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and visionaries to push boundaries and turn ideas into reality. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world.

At IBM Research, we are the innovation engine of IBM. Exploring what’s next in computing and shaping the technologies the world will rely on tomorrow. From advancing AI and hybrid cloud to pioneering practical quantum computing, we anticipate challenges and unlock new opportunities for clients, partners, and society. Working in Research means joining a team that accelerates discovery at the intersection of high‑performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. You’ll collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and visionaries to push boundaries and turn ideas into reality. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As a Research Scientist in Artificial Intelligence, you will lead cutting‑edge projects in various AI and machine learning areas, creating and leveraging AI techniques to solve analytical problems using rigorous and quantitative approaches. You will also communicate your research in technical communities through publications in top‑tier conferences and journals. Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Lead AI Projects: Lead projects in deep learning, reinforcement learning, lifelong learning, and other AI/ML areas, creating and applying AI techniques to solve complex analytical problems.
• Develop Algorithms: Develop and prove mathematical properties of algorithms, conducting successful experiments to demonstrate these properties and evaluating their impact on user experiences.
• Embed Research in Systems: Embed research algorithms in usable systems, ensuring seamless integration and effective application of AI techniques.
• Communicate Research: Communicate research findings through publications in top‑tier conferences and journals.

Preferred Education

Doctorate Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Deep Expertise in PL/SE/FM: Proven track record of leading cutting‑edge projects in compilers, programming languages, formal verification, or similar, with a strong foundation in designing and proving mathematical properties about formal systems.
• Conversant with major subfields of AI/ML, and a strong foundation in mathematical fundamentals and evaluation methods in common use in those fields.
• Proficiency in AI Frameworks and Model Training: Hands‑on experience with deep learning frameworks and/or modern GPU programming, with a demonstrated ability to embed research algorithms in usable systems.
• Research Communication: Established record of publishing research findings in top‑tier conferences and journals in PL/SE/FM and/or AI/ML.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Lead Research: You will lead projects at the intersection of programming language design, compiler design, and model hosting. You will prove mathematical properties of algorithms, conduct experiments to demonstrate their impact, and collaborate closely with peers to ensure that your innovations have a practical impact on the inference stack used by open weight model providers.
• Disseminate Research: You will situate and embed your research program within a larger industrial research program that includes IBM's granite language, vision, and speech models.
• Communicate Research: Communicate research findings through patents and through publications in top‑tier conferences and journals in ML, AI, and PL/FM, such as POPL, OOPSLA, PLDI, CAV, NeurIPS, CVPR, ICML, and ICLR.
• Collaborate: You will collaborate closely with researchers working and engineers working on reinforcement learning, deep learning, online learning, LLM training, and other AI/ML areas.
• Develop Models and Conduct Experiments: Conduct experiments to demonstrate the properties and impact of AI algorithms.