Technical Fellow - AI and Robotics (Part Time)

Socket.dev; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

Samsung Next in Mountain View, CA invites exceptional technical graduate students to join a paid Technical Fellowship. The program is a 12–16 week, part-time engagement (~20 hours/week) with a start in January 2027 and a December 14, 2026 cut‑off for hires.

Fellows work closely with the MD for AI and Robotics and an investment team member in live deals and memos. Fellows develop sector theses, conduct technical diligence, and produce memo work, with an embedded coaching structure and weekly

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled or recent graduate in a technical graduate program with strong research background.
• Deep expertise in AI, robotics, or edge/cloud infrastructure.
• Evidence of building, researching, publishing, shipping, or founding.
• Strong analytical writing and ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Curiosity about company building, markets, and customers.

Responsibilities

• Build a focused, structured technology thesis in your area of depth.
• Map markets and source opportunities with ecosystem mapping.
• Perform rigorous technical diligence on venture opportunities.
• Write concise, publication-ready investment memos and defend your view.
• Join cohort learning and participate in regular peer reviews.

Skills

AI depth

Robotics depth

Strong writing

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Graduate degree in CS / engineering

Job description

Mountain View, CA | Hybrid | Part-time (20 hrs/week), 12-16 weeks | Paid Fellowship

About Samsung Next

Samsung Next is an investment and corporate development group that champions bold and ambitious founders, focusing on transformative innovations in AI, intelligent machines, healthtech, consumer services, and frontier technologies. We provide early-stage capital, expertise and access to Samsung to accelerate founder success and bring strategic value to Samsung in the form of insights and collaborations. We deploy a unique strategy, making a large number of investments with rapid and independent decision‑making. We work globally, in particular with the Samsung headquarters in Suwon, Korea.

About the Technical Fellow Role

The Technical Fellowship is a paid, cohort‑based pathway for exceptional technical talent to explore venture investing. It is designed for current technical graduate students from research‑intensive degree programs who want to understand how frontier technology becomes a company - and whether investing is the right long‑term path for them.

No prior investing experience is required. What matters is deep, current technical expertise and the judgment to separate strong claims from weak ones.

Fellows are embedded directly with the MD for AI and Robotics and with an experienced member of our investment team. Each Fellow has a dedicated primary manager responsible for setting their goals, meeting weekly, and providing substantive feedback. Fellows work on live and practice deals, build sector theses, and produce publication‑ready investment memos.

The commitment is approximately 20 hours per week over 12‑16 weeks. Note this is a Spring 2027 Fellowship with the work truly commencing in January 2027, however for administrative purposes Fellows must be hired no later than December 14, 2026. Upon completion of the initial 12‑16 week fellowship, outstanding Fellows will be considered for a continued summer residency and, ultimately, an investor role at Samsung Next.

Samsung Next is based in Mountain View, CA (San Francisco Bay Area). Occasional travel to the office as well as conferences and events will be required.

What You’ll Do

• Build a focused thesis. Develop a structured sector or forward‑looking technology thesis in your area of depth.
• Map markets and source opportunities. Produce a comprehensive ecosystem map covering key market players, academic researchers, and commercial trends - and surface companies worth meeting. Sourcing is a significant part of the investing work and it is expected this will be a large component of your work.
• Run technical diligence. Perform rigorous technical evaluations on live or practice venture opportunities, assessing what is genuinely novel versus well‑packaged.
• Write investment memos. Produce one or more concise, publication‑ready investment memos and defend your point of view in deal discussion.
• Participate in cohort learning. Join a kickoff intensive on investment evaluation, technical diligence, and memo writing, plus recurring office hours and peer reviews with your cohort.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled or a recent graduate of a graduate degree program in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field, with a strong research background
• Deep expertise in a frontier technical area - specifically AI, robotics, edge/cloud infrastructure.
• Demonstrated evidence of building, researching, publishing, shipping, or founding
• Strong analytical writing and communication skills - able to simplify the complex, synthesize information, and provide pointed insights
• Genuine intellectual curiosity about company building, markets, and customers
• Professional judgment and discretion; comfortable handling confidential information
• Ability to work in an unstructured environment and take initiative without close supervision
• Available for an in‑person kickoff in Mountain View and regular hybrid presence during the program

Nice to Have

• Commercial instincts - an ability to connect a technology to customers and market timing
• Prior startup, research lab, or founding experience
• Involvement in technical communities, open source, or published research

Compensation

This is a paid fellowship, paid hourly nonexempt. The expected hiring range is $45-60 hourly.

At Samsung Next, we envision a world in which all phenomenal ideas have an equal chance of being realized and believe a dedication to diversity and inclusion is vital to making this happen. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Additional Information for California Residents: Information about what we are doing to meet the obligations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Consumer Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) and other important information for California residents is available at SRA's Job Applicant Privacy Policy. Please review the policy carefully for detailed information about the collection, processing, use, and transfer of your personal information.

At Samsung Next, we envision a world in which all phenomenal ideas have an equal chance of being realized and believe a dedication to diversity and inclusion is vital to making this happen. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Additional Information for California Residents: *

Information about what we are doing to meet the obligations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Consumer Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) other important information for California residents is available at SRA's Job Applicant Privacy Policy. Please review the policy carefully for detailed information about the collection, processing, use, and transfer of your personal information.