Research Scientist Graduate (Seed-LLM) - 2027 Start (PhD)

ByteDance; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 244,800 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Disability coverage

Paid holidays and personal time

Job summary

ByteDance’s Seed LLM team is advancing the next generation of large language models, tackling pre-training, post-training, inference, memory, learning, and interpretability. The role focuses on exploring models, data construction, instruction tuning, and optimization to improve reasoning and related abilities.

The ideal candidate is pursuing a PhD with a 2027 graduation window and strong coding skills in C/C++ or Python, plus hands-on experience with large-scale ML systems and collaborative

Qualifications

• Pursuing a PhD with expected graduation in 2027 and able to start by end of 2027.
• Excellent coding ability, data structures and fundamental algorithms; proficient in C/C++ or Python.
• Experience with large-scale model training, deep learning, and ML algorithms.
• Excellent problem analysis and solving skills for large-scale model training and applications.
• Candidates who have led influential projects or papers in the field of large-scale models are preferred.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to explore new technologies with the team.

Responsibilities

• Explore large-scale models and optimize associated systems.
• Perform data construction, instruction tuning, preference alignment, and model optimization.
• Improve model capabilities such as reasoning, code, mathematical reasoning, and more.
• Conduct in-depth research and exploration of future use cases.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Algorithms

Data structures

Education

PhD in computer science/related field

Job description

The Seed LLM team is dedicated to advancing the next generation of large language models and solving fundamental challenges in LLM development. It focuses on model pre‑training, post‑training, inference, memory capabilities, learning, interpretability, and related directions.

Responsibilities

• Explore large‑scale models and optimize associated systems.
• Perform data construction, instruction tuning, preference alignment, and model optimization.
• Improve model capabilities such as reasoning, code, mathematical reasoning, and more.
• Conduct in‑depth research and exploration of future use cases.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a PhD in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or a related field with an expected graduation date of 2027 and the ability to begin employment no later than the end of 2027.
• Excellent coding ability, data structures, and fundamental algorithm skills, proficient in C/C++ or Python.
• Experience with large‑scale model training, deep learning, and machine learning algorithms.
• Excellent problem analysis and solving skills, able to deeply tackle problems in large‑scale model training and application.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Candidates who have led influential projects or papers in the field of large‑scale models are preferred.
• Good communication and collaboration skills, able to explore new technologies with the team and promote technological progress.

Job Information

Compensation

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $244,800 – $450,000 annually. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the total package provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses, incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits

Employees have day‑one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) savings plan with company match; paid parental leave; short‑term and long‑term disability coverage; life insurance; wellbeing benefits; among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year, and 17 days of paid personal time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure). The company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates

• Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
• Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
  • Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
  • Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems;
  • Exercising sound judgment.

Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation

ByteDance is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request.