AI Research Scientist

Li Auto Inc.; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Li Auto Inc. is seeking an AI Researcher to lead pivotal research in Physical AI, focused on autonomous systems and intelligent mobility. The role involves strategic trend analysis, technology benchmarking, and collaborative engagements in academic research to design future AI architectures. Ideal candidates should possess advanced degrees and several years of relevant experience in AI and related fields.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in autonomous driving or embodied AI.
• Experience in technology foresight, strategy consulting, or academic research highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic analysis on global trends in Physical AI.
• Monitor and benchmark key players and emerging technologies.
• Produce technical and strategic insight reports for stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Communication

Bilingual English/Chinese

Education

Master’s or PhD in AI, Robotics, Computer Science, Cognitive Science

Job description

The World Model team is at the core of Li Auto’s long-term vision to redefine intelligent mobility through Physical AI.

As part of the Intelligent Driving division, we focus on two strategic pillars:

• Technical Foresight – Continuously tracking and decoding global innovations in embodied intelligence, world models, autonomous agents, and real-world foundation models.
• Frontier Research – Conducting exploratory studies and developing foundational capabilities that empower the next generation of autonomous systems.

Our mission is to anticipate breakthroughs, translate them into actionable insights, and steer the organization’s roadmap in AI planning, decision-making, and simulation. We closely monitor the progress of industry leaders like Tesla and Waymo, while also contributing to top-tier academic outputs.

This is a team for researchers who think beyond today’s limitations and are driven to architect the AI systems of tomorrow.

Duties and responsibilities

• Lead strategic analysis on global trends in Physical AI, including autonomous driving, embodied intelligence, robotics, and sensorimotor foundation models.
• Continuously monitor and benchmark key players (e.g., Tesla FSD, Waymo Robotaxi) and emerging technologies in North America and globally.
• Conduct exploratory research on cutting-edge technologies related to world models, multimodal large models, and planning frameworks in AI.
• Produce high-quality technical and strategic insight reports for internal stakeholders to inform roadmap and business decisions.
• Collaborate with R&D and product teams to shape future research directions and support decision-making with clear, data-driven foresight.
• Participate in academic engagements, including paper drafting and submission to top-tier AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, CVPR, ICRA, RSS).

Requirements

Education/Experience

• Master’s or PhD degree in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in autonomous driving, embodied AI, strategy research, or related technical domains.
• Proven experience in technology foresight, strategy consulting, or academic research related to Physical AI is highly preferred.

Knowledge

• Familiar with technical architectures of autonomous driving and Physical AI systems, including planning, simulation, and LLM/VLM integration.
• Understanding of multimodal foundation models (e.g., GPT-4V, Gemini, MM-ReAct), NeRF/3D scene generation, and decision-making frameworks.
• Awareness of global industry and academic trends in intelligent mobility and robotics.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical, synthesis, and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English; bilingual in Chinese is a plus.
• Ability to work cross-functionally, manage uncertainty, and handle ambiguity in emerging technology domains.
• Self-motivated, intellectually curious, and oriented toward high-impact results.

About Li Auto

We're a leading Chinese new energy vehicle company that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles (EVs). Through product, technology, and business model innovations, we provide families with safer, more comfortable, and more convenient products and services.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research, Science, and Information Technology

• Industries

  Automation Machinery Manufacturing and Technology, Information and Media

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