Research Scientist, Physical AI - Foundation Models - PhD New College Grad 2026

Are you passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI at the intersection of the digital and physical worlds? Join our groundbreaking research team as we revolutionize the future of physical AI through groundbreaking generative models. We are now hiring Research Scientists to join our Cosmos team!

As a Research Scientist specializing in Generative AI for Physical AI, you'll be at the forefront of developing next-generation algorithms that bridge the gap between virtual and physical realms. You'll work with state-of-the-art technology and have access to massive computational resources to bring your ideas to life.

What you'll be doing:

Pioneer revolutionary generative AI algorithms for physical AI applications, with a focus on advanced video generative models and video-language models

Architect and implement sophisticated data processing pipelines that produce premium-quality training data for Generative AI and Physical AI systems

Design and develop cutting-edge physics simulation algorithms that enhance Physical AI training

Scale and optimize large-scale training systems to efficiently harness the power of 20,000+ GPUs for training foundation models

Author influential research papers to share your groundbreaking discoveries with the global AI community

Drive innovation through close collaboration with research teams, diverse internal product groups, and external researchers

Build lasting impact by facilitating technology transfer and contributing to open-source initiatives

What we need to see:

PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Deep expertise in PyTorch and related libraries for Generative AI and Physical AI development

Strong foundation in diffusion, vision language and reasoning models and their applications

Proven experience with reinforcement learning algorithms and implementations

Robust knowledge of physics simulation and its integration with AI systems

Demonstrated proficiency in 3D generative models and their applications

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

Publications or contributions to major AI conferences (ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, ECCV, SIGGRAPH, ICCV, etc.)

Experience with large-scale distributed training systems

Background in robotics or physical systems

Open-source contributions to prominent AI projects

History of successful research-to-product transitions

You'll be part of a team that's defining the future of Physical AI, with access to world-class computing resources and the opportunity to work on problems that matter. Your research won't just live in papers – it will be implemented in real-world systems that push the boundaries of what's possible in AI. Join us in shaping the future of AI where digital intelligence meets physical reality. NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking and hardworking people in the world working for us. Are you a creative and autonomous research scientist with a genuine passion for advancing the state of AI? If so, we want to hear from you!

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 168,000 USD - 264,500 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits .

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until September 27, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.