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FigmaPhD Intern, AI Applied Scientist (2027)
Figma seeks a PhD Intern for an AI Applied Scientist position to join their AI Research team. The company offers a collaborative platform that lets teams…
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About This Role
Figma seeks a PhD Intern for an AI Applied Scientist position to join their AI Research team. The company offers a collaborative platform that lets teams brainstorm, prototype, translate designs into code, and iterate with AI in real time from anywhere. In this internship, participants will work on cutting-edge problems at the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence, helping to build robust design evaluators, post-train models, and optimize agentic systems.…
Job Description
Figma seeks a PhD Intern for an AI Applied Scientist position to join their AI Research team. The company offers a collaborative platform that lets teams brainstorm, prototype, translate designs into code, and iterate with AI in real time from anywhere. In this internship, participants will work on cutting-edge problems at the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence, helping to build robust design evaluators, post-train models, and optimize agentic systems. This temporary role is suited for advanced doctoral students aiming to shape future design features through both fundamental and applied research.
Selected interns will focus on generative artificial intelligence use cases, formulate new modeling approaches to upgrade existing systems or launch novel features, and experiment with cutting-edge concepts. Depending on the specific project assignment, researchers may also have a chance to publish their findings in major machine learning conferences. The internship takes place on-site at either the San Francisco or New York offices during the winter or summer term.
Responsibilities
- Conduct fundamental and applied research in generative artificial intelligence tied to product use cases
- Formulate and implement novel modeling approaches to enhance current models and launch new features
- Test experimental ideas and push the boundaries of existing technology sets
- Prepare research findings for publication in leading machine learning conferences depending on the project
Requirements
- Enrollment as a fourth or fifth year senior PhD student in artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, human computer interaction, or a related academic discipline
- Demonstrated expertise through publications on recent advancements like large language models or agentic systems
- Practical background applying machine learning techniques within academic or industrial settings
- Proficiency in Python and machine learning frameworks including PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and evaluate trade-offs to choose a direction
Qualifications
- Prior industry experience through a previous internship or full-time position
- Ability to communicate technical solutions clearly to diverse audiences
- Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, or Claude
Core Skills
Benefits
- Hourly base pay rate of $74 USD
- Housing stipend
- Travel reimbursement
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is this internship located?
The internship takes place on-site at Figma hub offices located in either San Francisco or New York.
What academic level must applicants be?
Applicants must be fourth or fifth year senior PhD students studying artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, human-computer interaction, or a related field.
What compensation is provided for this role?
The hourly base pay rate is $74 USD, and interns also receive a housing stipend and travel reimbursement.
What are the seasonal options for this internship?
The internship can take place in either Winter 2027 or Summer 2027.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.