Principal Applied Scientist

Adobe; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Adobe is looking for an experienced professional to build and evolve large-scale knowledge-grounded systems in San Jose, California. You'll work on hybrid neural-symbolic retrieval and modeling, and contribute to strategic direction in knowledge-centric AI. Ideal candidates hold a Ph.D. or equivalent with over 10 years in AI/ML systems, deep expertise in knowledge graphs and NLP/intent modeling.

Adobe promotes an inclusive work environment and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in building large-scale AI/ML systems.
• Deep expertise in knowledge graphs and information retrieval is required.

Responsibilities

• Build and evolve large-scale knowledge-grounded systems.
• Define evaluation frameworks for intent accuracy and semantic relevance.
• Mentor senior scientists and craft technical direction.

Skills

Building and deploying large-scale AI/ML systems

Knowledge graphs

Information retrieval

NLP/intent modeling

Multimodal learning

Education

Ph.D. or M.S. in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field

Job description

What You’ll Do

You will build and evolve large‑scale knowledge‑grounded systems that connect queries, entities, concepts, and multimodal signals into coherent semantic architectures. Your work will span:

• Hybrid neural‑symbolic retrieval and ranking
• Structured intent modeling and entity grounding
• Multimodal representations aligned with knowledge graphs
• Graph‑grounded RAG and agentic systems

You will also raise the scientific and architectural bar by:

• Defining evaluation frameworks for intent accuracy, entity grounding fidelity, graph coverage, and semantic relevance
• Establishing modeling and experimentation standards across teams
• Driving principled system building rooted in measurable impact
• Mentoring senior scientists and crafting cross‑org technical direction

Scope & Impact

At the P60 level, you will build semantic architecture across multiple products and set the strategic direction for knowledge‑grounded AI. You will be a recognized authority in knowledge‑centric AI systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience (preferred) or M.S. in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field
• 10+ years building and deploying large‑scale AI/ML systems
• Deep expertise in knowledge graphs, information retrieval, NLP/intent modeling, multimodal learning, or LLM/RAG systems
• Proven track record delivering production‑grade semantic platforms

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing ontologies or evolving domain taxonomies
• Familiarity with graph embeddings, GNNs, or hybrid graph‑LLM architectures
• Experience with entity linking, semantic parsing, or large‑scale indexing systems
• History of cross‑organizational technical influence

What Sets You Apart

• You think in systems, not isolated models
• You hold a high bar for rigor, clarity, and measurable impact
• You influence through technical depth and sound judgment
• You care about correctness— and building things that last

Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.