PhD Intern, AI Applied Scientist (2027)

San Francisco, CA • New York, NY · US · USD 74-74 · Posted Oct 5, 2026

At a glance

Figma is seeking PhD interns with expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop innovative AI solutions for design and creative products.
Through both fundamental and applied research, your work will contribute to new AI-driven features in Figma products.
This internship can take place in Winter 2027 or Summer 2027 in San Francisco or New York.

Drive fundamental and applied research in Generative AI with Figma product use cases in mind
Formulate and implement new modeling approaches both to improve the effectiveness of Figma’s current AI models as well as enable the launch of entirely new AI-powered product features
Explore the boundaries of what is possible with the current technology set and experiment with novel ideas
Depending on your project, you may have the opportunity to publish your research in leading AI/ML conferences

Are a 4th or 5th year senior Ph.D student in AI, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, Human Computer Interaction or a related field
Proven expertise in AI through publications on recent advancements in AI, such as Large Language Models or Agentic systems
Track record in applying machine learning techniques to projects in academia or industry
Experience in Python and machine learning frameworks (such as PyTorch, TensorFlow)
Experience solving sophisticated problems and comparing alternative solutions, trade-offs, and diverse points of view to determine a path forward

Related industry experience via a past internship or full-time role
Experience communicating your solutions effectively to different audiences
Experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude) to write, debug, and optimize code