AI Research Scientist Jobs at Scale AI with Visa Sponsorship
AI Research Scientist jobs at Scale AI involve advancing data labeling, RLHF pipelines, and frontier model evaluation. The company has an established process for sponsoring work visas across multiple categories, making it a realistic target for international researchers at both early-career and senior levels.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
As a Software Engineer on the ML Infrastructure team, you will design and build platforms for scalable, reliable, and efficient serving of LLMs. Our platform powers cutting-edge research and production systems, supporting both internal and external use cases across various environments. The ideal candidate combines strong ML fundamentals with deep expertise in backend system design. You’ll work in a highly collaborative environment, bridging research and engineering to deliver seamless experiences to our customers and accelerate innovation across the company.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will:
- Build and maintain fault-tolerant, high-performance systems for serving LLMs workloads at scale.
- Build an internal platform to empower LLM capability discovery.
- Collaborate with researchers and engineers to integrate and optimize models for production and research use cases.
- Conduct architecture and design reviews to uphold best practices in system design and scalability.
- Develop monitoring and observability solutions to ensure system health and performance.
- Lead projects end-to-end, from requirements gathering to implementation, in a cross-functional environment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Ideally you'd have:
- 5+ years of experience building large-scale, high-performance backend systems.
- Strong programming skills in one or more languages (e.g., Python, Go, Rust, C++).
- Experience with LLM serving and routing fundamentals (e.g. rate limiting, token streaming, load balancing, budgets, etc.).
- Experience with LLM capabilities and concepts such as reasoning, tool calling, prompt templates, etc.
- Experience with containers and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP) and infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform).
- Proven ability to solve complex problems and work independently in fast-moving environments.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Nice to haves:
- Experience with modern LLM serving frameworks such as vLLM, SGLang, TensorRT-LLM, or text-generation-inference.
COMPENSATION
Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You’ll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.
LOCATION
Please reference the job posting's subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the locations of San Francisco, New York, Seattle is: $216,200—$270,250 USD.
PLEASE NOTE:
Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.
About us:
At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, Cisco, DLA Piper, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.
We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@scale.com. Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information. We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision.
PLEASE NOTE:
We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.
INTRODUCTION
As a Software Engineer on the ML Infrastructure team, you will design and build platforms for scalable, reliable, and efficient serving of LLMs. Our platform powers cutting-edge research and production systems, supporting both internal and external use cases across various environments. The ideal candidate combines strong ML fundamentals with deep expertise in backend system design. You’ll work in a highly collaborative environment, bridging research and engineering to deliver seamless experiences to our customers and accelerate innovation across the company.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will:
- Build and maintain fault-tolerant, high-performance systems for serving LLMs workloads at scale.
- Build an internal platform to empower LLM capability discovery.
- Collaborate with researchers and engineers to integrate and optimize models for production and research use cases.
- Conduct architecture and design reviews to uphold best practices in system design and scalability.
- Develop monitoring and observability solutions to ensure system health and performance.
- Lead projects end-to-end, from requirements gathering to implementation, in a cross-functional environment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Ideally you'd have:
- 5+ years of experience building large-scale, high-performance backend systems.
- Strong programming skills in one or more languages (e.g., Python, Go, Rust, C++).
- Experience with LLM serving and routing fundamentals (e.g. rate limiting, token streaming, load balancing, budgets, etc.).
- Experience with LLM capabilities and concepts such as reasoning, tool calling, prompt templates, etc.
- Experience with containers and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP) and infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform).
- Proven ability to solve complex problems and work independently in fast-moving environments.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Nice to haves:
- Experience with modern LLM serving frameworks such as vLLM, SGLang, TensorRT-LLM, or text-generation-inference.
COMPENSATION
Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You’ll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.
LOCATION
Please reference the job posting's subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the locations of San Francisco, New York, Seattle is: $216,200—$270,250 USD.
PLEASE NOTE:
Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.
About us:
At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, Cisco, DLA Piper, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.
We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@scale.com. Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information. We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision.
PLEASE NOTE:
We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.
See all AI Research Scientist Jobs at Scale AI
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new AI Research Scientist Jobs at Scale AI.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding AI Research Scientist Jobs at Scale AI
Tailor your research portfolio to Scale AI's focus
Scale AI's research function centers on RLHF, model alignment, and evaluation benchmarks. Frame your publications and projects around human feedback systems or model quality assessment, not general ML research. Reviewers will connect your work directly to open roles.
Clarify your OPT or CPT timeline early
F-1 candidates should confirm their OPT end date before applying. If your 12-month OPT window closes before April, STEM extension eligibility becomes a deciding factor in whether Scale AI can bring you on without immediately filing an H-1B petition.
Ask specifically about cap-exempt petition pathways
If you missed the H-1B lottery, ask your recruiter whether Scale AI has any cap-exempt entity relationships. Some AI companies have research affiliations with nonprofit labs or universities that allow H-1B filings outside the annual cap and lottery process.
Prepare degree equivalency documentation before the offer stage
Scale AI research roles typically require a PhD or equivalent demonstrated experience. If you hold a three-year international bachelor's or a master's without a U.S. equivalent, get a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved service before your final interview round.
Browse open AI Research Scientist roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Scale AI's AI Research Scientist listings by visa type before you apply. Seeing which sponsorship categories are active at Scale AI right now helps you target applications where your current status actually fits.
Understand the PERM timeline if a Green Card is your goal
Scale AI has filed EB-2 and EB-3 petitions for research staff, but PERM labor certification can take 12 to 18 months before USCIS even sees your I-140. Ask your recruiter how early the company typically initiates the process after an H-1B approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scale AI sponsor H-1B visas for AI Research Scientists?
Yes, Scale AI sponsors H-1B visas for AI Research Scientists. The company participates in the annual H-1B cap lottery each April for cap-subject candidates, meaning your application typically needs to be submitted by March. If you're already in H-1B status with another employer, a transfer is possible without waiting for the lottery.
Which visa types are commonly used for AI Research Scientist roles at Scale AI?
Scale AI sponsors several visa categories for this function, including H-1B, E-3 visa for Australian nationals, TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nationals, and F-1 OPT and CPT for students in active academic programs. The right category depends on your citizenship, current status, and where you are in your career. Confirm which pathway applies to your situation before your final interview.
What qualifications does Scale AI expect for AI Research Scientist positions?
Scale AI research roles typically require a PhD in machine learning, computer science, statistics, or a closely related field, or a master's degree with several years of industry research experience. Published work on model evaluation, RLHF, alignment, or data quality is a strong differentiator. Practical coding fluency in Python and experience with large-scale training runs are expected at all levels.
How do I apply for AI Research Scientist jobs at Scale AI?
You can browse current AI Research Scientist openings at Scale AI through Migrate Mate, which filters listings by visa sponsorship category so you can confirm your status is supported before applying. Applications typically involve an initial recruiter screen, a take-home or live coding assessment, and a research presentation round. Having your OPT documentation or visa status details ready speeds up the offer process.
How do I plan the timeline between an offer and my start date at Scale AI?
Timeline depends heavily on which visa applies to you. H-1B petitions filed with premium processing through USCIS can be adjudicated in 15 business days, while standard processing takes several months. E-3 and TN applicants can often complete consular processing within a few weeks of receiving a certified Labor Condition Application from the DOL. Build at least 60 to 90 days between offer acceptance and your target start date to account for any delays.