Senior / Principal Machine Learning Scientist

As a Senior or Principal Machine Learning Scientist, you will play a prominent role in developing generative AI/ML models for multi-modal, multiscale biology from virtual cells to agentic target assessment.  We are looking for a hands-on, creative, and collaborative individual to join our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers focused on transforming how we treat aging and disease. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment that emphasizes teamwork, transparency, scientific excellence, originality, rigor, and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Pioneer novel machine learning methodologies and statistical frameworks (e.g., generative models, causal inference, diffusion models, and advanced transformer architectures) to address fundamental challenges in cell health and rejuvenation
• Contribute to setting the long-term technical vision and research strategy for a core domain (e.g., multi-modal data fusion, perturbation modeling) within the Institute of Computation
• Translate your deep understanding of the mathematical and theoretical underpinnings of cutting-edge AI research into high-impact applications
• Design, implement, and optimize large-scale machine learning systems using modern frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, JAX) and  agile practices
• Develop and manage efficient distributed training strategies across multiple GPUs and compute clusters to handle terabytes of multi-modal biological data
• Develop robust approaches for multi-modal data integration and cross-domain mapping to extract actionable biological insights
• Apply computational thinking to solve problems in drug target identification, compound assessment, and prediction of cellular perturbation responses
• Lead the full ML development lifecycle from theoretical conception and data strategy through model development, training, and evaluation
• Act as a key technical mentor to Machine Learning Scientists and Engineers, raising the bar for scientific rigor and model robustness across the organization.

Who You Are

• Proven track record leveraging machine learning to solve real-world problems;
• Expertise in one or more of the following: generative models, language models, computer vision, bayesian inference, causal reasoning & inference, transfer & multi-task learning, diffusion models, graph neural networks, active learning, cooperative agents
• Experience writing production-quality code with modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, or similar
• Experience with multi-GPU and distributed training at scale
• A team player who thrives in collaborative environments and is committed to enabling colleagues to reach their full potential through giving and requesting feedback focussed on professional growth
• Able to advise others across the wider function / company on cutting edge practices and approaches to enable the science / research. Desire to constantly expand your skillset and knowledge. Keen to learn more about biology, computational science, and medicine;
• Inspired by the Altos mission of restoring cell health and resilience to reverse disease, injury, and age-related disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, or a related quantitative field, demonstrating a deep theoretical foundation in ML/AI.
• 6+ years of of relevant post-PhD work experience in either an academic or industry setting
• Proven experience developing and applying complex machine learning models, preferably with a significant portion of that time spent in a fast-paced industry or translational research environment.
• A strong track record of leading and publishing innovative, peer-reviewed research in top-tier ML conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) or high-impact scientific journals.
• Excellent scientific communication skills: verbally and in writing; with computational and non-computational audiences, in informal 1-1 settings, team meetings, and formal seminars
• Expertise in several of the following: deep learning, reinforcement learning, generative models, language models, computer vision, Bayesian inference, causal reasoning & inference, transfer & multi-task learning, graph neural networks, active learning, hybrid mechanistic/ML models
• Proven experience applying sophisticated ML techniques to molecular and cell biological data sets (e.g., NGS, spatial omics, bioimaging).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in cell health and rejuvenation related research area
• Experience in the application of machine learning methods to biological data
• Experience in computational approaches to drug discovery
• Experience with software development methodologies and open-source software

The salary range for Redwood City, CA:

• Senior Scientist I, Machine Learning: $280,500 - $379,500
• Senior Scientist II, Machine Learning: $317,050 - $428,950
• Principal Scientist, Machine Learning: $376,550 - $509,450

The salary range for San Diego, CA:

• Senior Scientist I, Machine Learning: $260,950 - $353,050
• Senior Scientist II, Machine Learning: $285,600 - $386,400
• Principal Scientist, Machine Learning: $340,000 - $460,000

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Before submitting your application:

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- This Privacy Notice is not a contract, express or implied and it does not set terms or conditions of employment.

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