Senior Applied Scientist

Adobe Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 301,200; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in San Jose is seeking a Data Scientist to drive multimodal data strategy, develop models for data quality, and lead cross-functional research projects. The ideal candidate will have a Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, a strong background in generative AI, and proficiency in Python and PyTorch. This position offers a competitive salary range of $162,000 to $301,200 annually, based on experience and location.

Qualifications

• Strong track record in generative AI, multimodal learning, or data-centric ML.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects from prototype to deployment.
• Deep understanding of generative models and data-driven model optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and execution of large-scale multimodal data pipelines.
• Train and evaluate classifiers and multimodal evaluators.
• Research, train, and evaluate MLLMs and editing-oriented foundation models.

Skills

Applied research and publications

Python

PyTorch

Excellent communication

Collaboration skills

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Distributed training

Large-scale data systems

Cloud pipelines

Job description

Our Company

Changing the world through digital experiences is what Adobe's all about. We give everyone-from emerging artists to global brands-everything they need to design and deliver exceptional digital experiences! We're passionate about empowering people to create beautiful and powerful images, videos, and apps, and transform how companies interact with customers across every screen.

We're on a mission to hire the very best and are committed to creating exceptional employee experiences where everyone is respected and has access to equal opportunity. We realize that new ideas can come from everywhere in the organization, and we know the next big idea could be yours!

Job Responsibilities

• Drive data strategy for foundation models: Lead strategy and execution of large-scale multimodal data pipelines (image/video/text/edits), including acquisition, curation, filtering, and synthetic data generation at production scale.
• Develop models for data quality and evaluation: Strategize, train, and evaluate classifiers, scorers, and multimodal evaluators (e.g., VLM-as-judge) to measure, rank, filter, and route data for generative and editing tasks.
• Advance MLLM & Editing FMs: Research, train, and evaluate MLLMs and editing-oriented foundation models that enable creative generation, transformation, and in-product editing workflows.
• Lead cross‑functional research projects: Partner with product, infra, and applied science teams to align data‑centric modeling strategies with Firefly's model roadmap and evaluation frameworks.
• Innovate, mentor, and influence: Survey and translate frontier research into production systems, mentor junior scientists and engineers, and contribute thought leadership in multimodal data and generative modeling.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field.
• Strong track record of applied research and publications in generative AI, multimodal learning, or data‑centric ML.
• Proficiency in Python, PyTorch, and modern ML infrastructure (distributed training, large‑scale data systems, cloud pipelines).
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects across multiple teams, from prototype to scalable deployment.
• Deep understanding of generative models (diffusion, transformers, autoregressive/flow) and data‑driven model optimization.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience influencing technical direction across stakeholders.

Preferred Experience

• Experience shipping editing‑aware models (inpainting, segmentation, compositing, control signals).
• Expertise in data quality modeling, including weak supervision, active learning, and learned quality/relevance scorers.
• Hands‑on experience with large‑scale multimodal datasets and synthetic data generation pipelines.
• Demonstrated success driving data and model research initiatives from concept to production impact.

#fireflygenai

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $162,000 – $301,200 annually. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.

At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short‑term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans. Non‑sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short‑term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).

In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long‑term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.

State‑Specific Notices

California: Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.

Colorado: Application Window Notice – If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts Legal Notice – It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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 applicable characteristics protected by law. Learn more.

Adobe aims to make Adobe.com accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email [e-mail] or call (408) 536‑3015.