AI Applied Scientist

About the Position

Figma is growing our team of passionate creatives and builders on a mission to make design accessible to all. Figma’s platform helps teams bring ideas to life-whether you're brainstorming, creating a prototype, translating designs into code, or iterating with AI. From idea to product, Figma empowers teams to streamline workflows, move faster, and work together in real time from anywhere in the world. If you're excited to shape the future of design and collaboration, join us!

We’re looking for applied scientists with a Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence background to build AI technologies and make Figma products more magical. You will be driving fundamental and applied research in this area. You will be combining industry best practices and a first-principles approach to design and build AI/ML models and systems to improve Figma’s products.

This is a full-time role that can be held from one of our US hubs or remotely in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Driving fundamental and applied research in AI. Exploring the boundaries of what is possible with the current technology set to build best-in-class models for Figma’s domains.
• Combining industry best practices and a first-principles approach to build cutting-edge Generative AI models, using techniques like Supervised Finetuning (SFT), Reinforcement Learning (RL), prompt improvements, and synthetic data generation.
• Working in concert with product and infrastructure engineers to improve Figma’s products through AI-powered features.
• Collaborating closely with product managers and engineers to transform user feedback into requirements for AI systems.
• Building evaluation systems to measure and improve the quality of AI features in Figma products.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in building generative AI features through prompt engineering and fine-tuning models in production environments.
• Experience working on deep learning and generative AI frameworks like PyTorch, JAX, HuggingFace, etc.
• Experience training LLMs with Reinforcement Learning techniques such as preference-based RL (DPO, PPO) and/or RL with verifiable rewards (RLVR) such as GRPO/DAPO. Experience with RL from execution feedback for Coding, and RL with non-verifiable rewards will be a plus.
• 4+ years in Generative AI, and 6+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas: machine learning, natural language processing/understanding, computer vision.
• Strong software engineering skills with 5+ years of experience in programming languages (Python, C++, Java, or R).
• Experience communicating and working across functions to drive solutions.

Nice to Have

• Proven track record of planning multi-year roadmaps in which shorter-term projects ladder to the long-term vision.
• Experience in mentoring/influencing senior engineers across organizations.
• Expertise working on large-scale and distributed AI training.

We Offer

• Competitive salary range: $153,000 - $376,000 USD.
• Equity for employees.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement benefits with company contributions; parental leave and reproductive or family planning support; mental health and wellness benefits; and paid time off.
• Paid sick leave, holidays, and other leave benefits in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) for exempt employees.
• Additional benefits may include company recharge days, cell phone and home internet reimbursements, and a number of lifestyle spending accounts.
• Sales incentive compensation for most sales roles and an annual bonus plan for eligible non-sales roles.

About the Company

At Figma, one of our values is Grow as you go. We believe in hiring smart, curious people who are excited to learn and develop their skills. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the points outlined in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Figma celebrates and supports our differences. We are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to apply for a role, participate in the interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodation, please reach out to [email protected].