Senior Applied Research Scientist - Foundation Models

Ambient.ai is hiring a Senior Applied Research Scientist to build the next generation of foundation models for computer vision. The role involves developing and optimizing transformer-based vision-language models, pre-training and fine-tuning on image-text data, and applying techniques like distillation, quantization, and pruning for efficient edge deployment.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master’s in CS, EE, or related field, with a strong foundation in AI/ML (Ph.D. preferred or Master’s with strong experience)
• Proficient in Python and deep learning frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow. Comfortable with large-scale training pipelines
• Hands-on experience with CNNs, Transformers, and Vision Transformers (ViT). Strong understanding of vision-language models and how to fine-tune or adapt them
• Proven skills in model training and optimization, including fine-tuning on large datasets and applying distillation, quantization, or similar techniques. Experience with foundation or multimodal models is a plus
• Strong problem-solving ability: quick prototyping, diagnosing failure cases, and iterating on solutions
• Startup experience preferred: Comfortable with ambiguity, fast iteration, and owning projects end-to-end

Benefits

• Comprehensive health + welfare package (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, EAP, Legal Services, 401k plan)
• Flexible time off to rest and recharge
• Stock options for the opportunity to share ownership in the success of the company
• Cutting-edge equipment and branded gear
• Opportunities to connect with co-workers