AI Research Scientist

About the role

About The Company

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build, and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips—the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied Materials enables exciting technologies that connect our world, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Our commitment to innovation and excellence drives us to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next-generation technology. Join us to be part of a team that delivers material innovation that changes the world.

About The Role

We are seeking a talented and motivated AI Research Scientist to join our dynamic team at Applied Materials. In this role, you will focus on developing, pretraining, fine-tuning, and aligning large language models (LLMs) and generative AI models specifically tailored for scientific and materials science applications. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including scientists, engineers, and product leaders to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions that accelerate materials discovery, hypothesis generation, and hardware design. Your expertise will contribute to designing innovative post-training methods, evaluating model robustness, and creating domain-specific datasets to ensure the highest standards of scientific accuracy and trustworthiness. This is an excellent opportunity for a research-driven individual passionate about leveraging AI to solve complex scientific problems and make a tangible impact on technology development.

Qualifications

MS or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.

Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and generative AI, with experience in scientific or technical domains.

Hands-on experience with large language model pretraining, supervised fine-tuning (SFT), post-training alignment techniques such as Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF), and rigorous model evaluation.

Proficiency in Python and frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.

Experience working with structured and unstructured scientific data, including literature, experimental results, and simulation outputs, and developing domain-specific models.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and present complex ideas effectively.

Responsibilities

Develop, pretrain, fine-tune, and align large language models and generative models tailored for scientific and materials science data, literature, and workflows.

Innovate post-training methods, alignment strategies, and evaluation protocols to ensure models are robust, accurate, and trustworthy for scientific use cases.

Design and implement generative AI approaches to accelerate materials discovery, hypothesis generation, and hardware design processes.

Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and cross-functional teams to identify impactful applications of generative AI in materials science.

Build and curate scientific datasets, benchmarks, and evaluation protocols for model validation and ongoing improvement.

Stay current with advances in AI, machine learning, and materials science, and publish original research in top scientific venues.

Mentor junior team members and foster a collaborative, inclusive research environment that encourages innovation and knowledge sharing.

Benefits

Competitive salary range of $131,000 to $180,000 annually.

Supportive work culture that encourages learning, professional growth, and career development.

Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance.

Opportunities for participation in bonus and stock award programs, subject to company policies.

Relocation assistance for eligible candidates.

Flexible work arrangements and a focus on work-life balance.

Access to cutting-edge technology and opportunities to work on innovative projects.

Equal Opportunity

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes equal opportunity for all employees.