PhD Intern, AI Applied Scientist (2027)

The AI Research team at Figma is working on the cutting edge of AI and Design. We work on optimizing agentic systems for design quality and end user experience. We build robust evaluators for Design and post-train models. We are a very collaborative, close-knit and impact-focused team of researchers and research engineers working on some of the most challenging technical problems at the intersection of AI and creativity.

We are 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. 

What you’ll do at Figma:

• 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

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• 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

While it’s not required, it’s an added plus if you also have:

• 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

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.