Senior scientist jobs in Pleasanton, CA - 1,611 jobs

A leading AI technology company in San Francisco is seeking a Research Scientist to advance AI models and techniques. You'll work in a collaborative environment, focusing on novel research, and applying AI solutions to real-world challenges. Candidates with a Bachelor's or Master's degree and 2+ years of relevant experience are encouraged to apply, with a competitive salary range of $192,000 - $260,000. #J-18808-Ljbffr

### As a research scientist with Martian, you will develop new techniques to understand how AI models work. This work will focus on exploring and improving a technique we call “model mapping”: converting transformers into more interpretable representations (such as programs). We are looking for people who can develop and scale up methods for making transformers more interpretable through model mapping and then understanding the transformers in the new domain we map to. Full details can be found here. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A leading AI robotics firm based in San Francisco is seeking an AI Robotics Research Scientist. This role involves developing and training robotic AI models and working with an all-star team to tackle advanced robotics challenges. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Robotics or Computer Science and experience in deep learning and robotic hardware. A competitive salary range of $180,000 - $250,000 plus equity is offered, along with strong benefits that include paid time off, health insurance, and 401k contributions. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A leading AI science company in San Francisco is seeking an Applied Scientist to tackle complex marketing measurement challenges. The role involves designing innovative algorithms and collaborating with clients to ensure accuracy at scale. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of experience in research code and a strong mathematical background, including causal inference. The compensation ranges from $235K to $258K, with equity offers and the chance to work with cutting-edge technology in a dynamic startup environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Substrate is addressing one of the most important technological problems facing the United States. At the intersection of advanced manufacturing and cutting‑edge physics, we are developing technologies that will reshape the semiconductor industry and strengthen America's technological leadership. We are a team of world‑class scientists, engineers, and technical experts building technology for the United States. Summary As a Research Scientist working with AI, you will accelerate and augment R&D workflows by applying machine learning to scientific simulations and modeling while simultaneously building internal AI capabilities across the organization. This role sits at the intersection of cutting‑edge physics and artificial intelligence, and you'll work hands‑on to develop AI‑augmented tools that enable breakthrough research, and build the infrastructure and expertise that empowers our technical teams to leverage AI in their own work. Whether you are a physicist who has embraced machine learning or an AI expert with deep scientific domain knowledge, you will play a pivotal role in defining how we utilize AI to accelerate our own internal R&D. Responsibilities Integrate machine learning techniques to accelerate scientific simulations, modeling, and computational workflows Develop AI‑augmented tools for materials science, device physics, or accelerator physics applications Build internal AI infrastructure and capabilities to enable research teams across the organization Train and mentor scientists and engineers on integrating AI/ML into their research workflows Implement surrogate models, physics‑informed neural networks, or generative approaches for scientific problems Develop data pipelines and frameworks for scientific machine learning across distributed teams Collaborate with computational physicists and experimentalists to identify high‑impact AI applications Set AI best practices and establish standards for ML‑augmented R&D Required Qualifications 5+ years professional or academic research experience in physical sciences, engineering, or related field 2‑3+ years hands‑on experience applying machine learning to scientific or technical problems Strong programming skills in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, or similar) Deep understanding of scientific computing, numerical methods, and computational modeling Proven ability to translate scientific problems into machine learning approaches Experience building tools, infrastructure, or capabilities used by technical teams Preferred Qualifications PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field Publications applying ML to scientific computing, simulation, or experimental data analysis Experience with physics‑informed machine learning or scientific foundation models Background in accelerator physics, semiconductor devices, materials modeling, or related domains Track record of enabling technical teams through tool development or mentorship Salary Range $150,000-$400,000 USD Substrate is an equal opportunity employer. It provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender, age, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Substrate will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the hiring process, please let your recruiter know. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A leading AI research company in San Francisco is seeking a Research Scientist in mathematical sciences to design and build AI models that tackle complex scientific problems. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and experience with frontier models. This position operates on a hybrid work model, valuing rigor and reproducibility in scientific research. Competitive compensation is offered. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A generative media company in San Francisco seeks a Research Scientist to develop innovative architectures for long-form video generation. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Machine Learning or a related field, expertise in auto-regressive modeling, and proficiency in Python and PyTorch. This role offers competitive compensation and valuable experience in the evolving field of AI-driven content creation. #J-18808-Ljbffr

We are Genmo, a research lab dedicated to building open, state-of-the-art models for video generation towards unlocking the right brain of AGI. Join us in shaping the future of AI and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in video generation. Role overview We are seeking an exceptional Research Scientist to join our team, focusing on alignment and post-training techniques for large-scale video generation models. In this role, you will be at the forefront of ensuring our diffusion-based video models reliably produce high-quality, physically accurate and safe outputs that match human preferences and values. Responsibilities Lead research initiatives in alignment and post-training methods for video generation models, focusing on improved quality, reliability, and adherence to human intent Design and implement supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) pipelines for video generation models Develop robust evaluation frameworks to measure model alignment, safety, and output quality Create and optimize data collection pipelines for human feedback and preferences Design and conduct experiments to validate alignment techniques and their scaling properties Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate alignment improvements into our production pipeline Stay at the cutting edge of the field by regularly reviewing academic literature in both generative AI and alignment Mentor junior researchers and foster a culture of responsible AI development Work closely with product teams to ensure alignment methods enhance rather than inhibit model capabilities Qualifications Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a closely related field Must have: Strong publication record in top-tier conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) with a focus on reinforcement learning, alignment, or generative models Extensive experience implementing and optimizing large-scale training pipelines using PyTorch Deep understanding of reinforcement learning techniques, particularly RLHF Experience with distributed training systems and large-scale experiments Proven track record in designing and implementing robust evaluation frameworks Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences Strong software engineering skills and experience with complex shared codebases Ideal candidate will have: Experience with diffusion models or other generative architectures Background in fine-tuning large language models or generative models Experience working with human feedback data collection and annotation pipelines Strong aesthetic sense and understanding of video quality assessment Familiarity with alignment techniques such as constitutional AI or debate Track record of successful collaboration with product teams Experience with perceptual quality metrics and human evaluation design Contributions to open-source projects in AI alignment or generative AI Additional Information Additional Information The role is based in the Bay Area (San Francisco). Candidates are expected to be located near the Bay Area or open to relocation. Genmo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates are evaluated without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. Genmo, Inc. is an E-Verify company and you may review the Notice of E-Verify Participation and the Right to Work posters in English and Spanish. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A pioneering AI security company located in San Francisco is seeking a Research Scientist to develop and enhance cutting-edge agent and machine learning security techniques. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Python and various LLM libraries, with a passion for innovation in a fast-paced startup environment. This role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking AI solutions. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A technology firm specializing in neuroscience is seeking a Research Scientist focused on rodent behavior and neural imaging. The ideal candidate will design experiments, analyze neural data, and translate findings to human studies. Candidates should hold a PhD or postdoc in relevant fields and demonstrate proficiency in ultrasound neuromodulation techniques. This role is critical for advancing non-invasive brain research. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A multi-modal foundational AI company is seeking a Foundational AI Research Scientist to lead research on large-language-model architectures. The role involves designing and validating new transformer variants and attention mechanisms for production systems. Ideal candidates will have a Ph.D. and 3+ years of industry experience in AI research, with deep knowledge of sequence modeling architectures and pre-training of large models. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible PTO, and comprehensive benefits. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Uncountable is seeking a scientific implementation associate who can bring a passion for science and data into a career in business development. This implementation role is designed to help bring both the scientist and their science into the Uncountable ecosystem. In this role you will both support existing customers with new implementation initiatives and support implementation of new customers. You will restructure and contextualize customer data, design implementation data structures within Uncountable, and configure our platform for value-adding use across an organization. This is a fast-paced, project-oriented, customer and engineering facing role. This position demands a passion for data and material science, strong communication and time management skills, and the ability to empathize both emotionally and scientifically with a variety of users spanning the R&D landscape. Within 30 days you will be restructuring customer data to support ongoing implementing efforts. You will work with our account management team to faithfully configure experiments within the platform for scientists. Within 90 days you will begin to lead implementation projects for existing customers, facilitating meetings, collaborating with the account management team on timelines and deliverables, and ensuring success for new usage within our platform. Within 180 days you will take ownership of the implementation process for a new customer. You will lead demos, orchestrate meetings, set timelines, and advocate for new product development to meet the unique needs of our most exciting customers. Salary 70-80k Per Year, in addition to performance bonus and equity Relevant Experience, Skills, and Preferences Bachelor's degree or 2+ years experience in some scientific field (chemistry, biology, materials science, chemical engineering, or related fields) Affinity and familiarity working with data in Excel (Python or other coding skills amajorplus) Excellent virtual and in-person communication skills #J-18808-Ljbffr

A cutting-edge AI startup is seeking an experienced AI Researcher to drive innovative research in generative AI and build multimodal foundation models. Ideally located in San Francisco, the candidate will require a PhD and 5+ years in the field. Responsibilities include designing and implementing models, conducting independent research, and publishing findings. This role is central to advancing AI for earth observation and creating a positive impact. #J-18808-Ljbffr

The Center for Brain and Health (CBH) at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is seeking a Research Scientist to explore scientific questions related to an in-progress normative brain database. The research scientist will be a key member of a multidisciplinary team responsible for collection of multimodal brain data, including MR imaging, MEG, EEG, and eye tracking. The tentpole of the CBH is the first normative brain database in the region, featuring structural, functional, diffusion MRI, behavioral and health measures, genetic information, and lifestyle questionnaires. The anticipated appointment start date is May 1, 2026, with a guaranteed term of 18 months and the possibility of renewal based on performance. Responsibilities Explore scientific questions related to the normative brain database. Conduct data collection and processing of multimodal MR imaging, MEG, EEG, and eye tracking. Apply big‑data analysis techniques and advanced computational methods to brain imaging data. Collaborate with the multidisciplinary research team. Contribute to peer‑reviewed publications and scientific communication. Qualifications Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Psychology, MR Physics, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field. Postdoctoral experience or an equivalent level of experience preferred. Extensive experience with multimodal MRI, including functional, structural, and tractography methods. Proficiency in big‑data analysis techniques. Experience with other large brain databases preferred. Strong computational skills and a solid publication record. Benefits Competitive salary and benefits. Housing allowance. Other benefits as specified in the employment terms. Application Instructions Cover letter. Curriculum vitae with a full publication list. Transcript. Statement of research interests. Three representative publications. Three letters of reference. All materials must be submitted in PDF format. Applications are accepted immediately; please submit through the NYUAD careers page at ************************************************************* For questions, contact ************** or **************************. UAE nationals are encouraged to apply. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. Sustainability Statement NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability. #J-18808-Ljbffr

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Research Scientist to innovate and advance machine learning techniques. This role offers the opportunity to develop impactful research while collaborating across teams to push the boundaries of AI. Ideal candidates will have a track record of innovation, a strong understanding of deep learning algorithms, and a commitment to the ethical implications of AI technology. Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to ensuring AI benefits all of humanity and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology. #J-18808-Ljbffr

About Goodfire Behind our name: Like fire, AI holds the potential for both immense benefit and significant risk. Just as mastering fire transformed human history, we believe the safe and intentional development of AI will shape the future of our species. Our goal is to tame this new fire. Goodfire is an AI interpretability research company focused on understanding and designing AI systems that people can trust. Our mission is to advance humanity's understanding of AI to build safe and powerful AI systems. We believe that deep research breakthroughs are necessary to make this possible. Goodfire is a public benefit corporation headquartered in San Francisco with a team of the world's top interpretability researchers and engineers from organizations like OpenAI and DeepMind. We've raised $59M from investors like Menlo, Lightspeed and Anthropic and work with customers including Arc Institute, Mayo Clinic, and Rakuten. About the role Scientific AI models trained to model natural systems are revolutionizing research across scientific domains, including protein interaction prediction, protein design, disease prediction, and materials discovery. We're looking for a Forward Deployed Research Scientist (Biology) to join our team to work directly with customers to develop new techniques for understanding and designing large biological foundation models. You'll work closely with a small, mission-driven team of scientists and engineers to conduct novel research, build practical tools, and push the field forward. Where you might contribute: Forward deployed research - lead scientific research with our partners to interpret advanced biological foundation models (genomic foundation models, ViTs, PLMs) to uncover what they've learned. Project delivery and implementation - own research delivery on high-stakes projects with customers and do whatever it takes to make delivery successful, including: problem and hypothesis definition, data sourcing, tool building, iteration, and implementation. Translate research into tools for real-world applications in precision medicine, digital pathology, drug discovery, and more. Key Responsibilities: Work directly with customers to conduct original research in interpretability and computational biology. Prototype techniques to visualize and manipulate internal model structures. Collaborate with engineering to turn research into production-ready tools. Drive partnership success by collaborating closely with our customers and partners. Help define and evolve our research direction. Required experience PhD/MD or equivalent experience in biology, with a strong ML background and experience in computational biology or bioinformatics. Deep familiarity with large models and a passion for understanding how they work. Fluency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch. Strong writing and communication skills for explaining complex ideas. Drive to move quickly and take ownership. Preferred qualifications Experience leading research in a forward deployed environment and in service of a customer's requirements. Familiarity with interpretability, alignment, or safe model development. Experience in startup or fast-paced lab environments. Our values Goodfire is looking for individuals who embody our values and share our deep commitment to making interpretability accessible. We are building a team first and foremost. Put mission and team first All we do is in service of our mission. We trust each other, deeply care about the success of the organization, and choose to put our team above ourselves. Improve constantly We are constantly looking to improve every piece of the business. We proactively critique ourselves and others in a kind and thoughtful way that translates to practical improvements in the organization. We are pragmatic and consistently implement the obvious fixes that work. Take ownership and initiative There are no bystanders here. We proactively identify problems and take full responsibility over getting a strong result. We are self-driven, own our mistakes, and feel deep responsibility over what we're building. Action today We have a small amount of time to do something incredibly hard and meaningful. The pace and intensity of the organization is high. If we can take action today or tomorrow, we will choose to do it today. What we offer This role offers market competitive salary, equity, and competitive benefits. The expected salary range for this position is $220,000 - $315,000 USD Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to join a vital mission at an important point in its trajectory - we are developing groundbreaking technology with a world-class team on the critical path to ensuring a safe and beneficial future for humanity. If you want to do your life's work with us, even if you believe you do not meet every single requirement, apply now. #J-18808-Ljbffr

About Hedra Hedra is a pioneering generative media company backed by top investors at Index, A16Z, and Abstract Ventures. We're building Hedra Studio, a multimodal creation platform capable of control, emotion, and creative intelligence. At the core of Hedra Studio is our Character-3 foundation model, the first omnimodal model in production. Character-3 jointly reasons across image, text, and audio for more intelligent video generation - it's the next evolution of AI-driven content creation. At Hedra, we're a team of hard-working, passionate individuals seeking to fundamentally change content creation and build a generational company together. We value startup energy, initiative, and the ability to turn bold ideas into real products. Our team is fully in-person in SF/NY with a shared love for whiteboard problem-solving. Overview We are seeking a Research Scientist to lead innovation in video generation distillation, including step distillation, model size reduction, and efficient inference methods. This role focuses on making state-of-the-art video diffusion models faster, lighter, and more deployable without sacrificing quality. The ideal candidate will be experienced in model compression techniques and capable of bridging cutting-edge research with production needs. Responsibilities Research and develop distillation techniques for video diffusion models, including step distillation, layer pruning, and knowledge transfer. Optimize models for latency, memory footprint, and energy efficiency while maintaining high generation quality. Collaborate with engineering to implement and benchmark accelerated inference pipelines. Monitor and evaluate advancements in model compression, quantization, and efficient generative modeling. Present findings to the team and contribute to publications or patents where applicable. Qualifications PhD or strong industry experience in Machine Learning, with a focus on model compression, distillation, or efficient deep learning. Strong understanding of diffusion models and their training/inference workflows. Proficiency in Python and PyTorch; familiarity with performance profiling and optimization. Experience with quantization, pruning, and low-rank adaptation techniques is a plus. A record of impactful work in model efficiency, either in research or production. Benefits Competitive compensation + equity 401k (no match) Healthcare (Silver PPO Medical, Vision, Dental) Lunch and snacks at the office We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement - we value curiosity, creativity, and the drive to solve hard problem #J-18808-Ljbffr

A leading technology company in San Francisco is seeking a research scientist focused on cell biology. The role involves developing methods for ultrasound characterization on neural tissue, conducting experiments, and translating findings to human studies. Ideal candidates will have a PhD or postdoc background and exceptional skills in neural techniques. This is an opportunity to be part of an innovative team dedicated to improving lives through technology. #J-18808-Ljbffr

An innovative AI startup in San Francisco is looking for a Foundational AI Research Scientist to pioneer next-generation large-language-model architectures. Ideal candidates will have a deep understanding of sequence modeling architectures, expertise in PyTorch, and experience in pre-training large language models. Join a dynamic team to help shape the future of intelligent human-machine interfaces. #J-18808-Ljbffr