Head of AI Research

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About the Role We are a seed-stage deeptech startup building an advanced materials acceleration platform that combines physics-informed AI, robotics, and real-world experimental data to dramatically shorten the timeline for discovering new materials - particularly for the energy sector. We are seeking a Head of AI Research to define and lead our AI-for-Materials research agenda. This is a senior leadership role sitting at the intersection of machine learning, physics, chemistry, and automated experimentation. You will shape the scientific vision that translates cutting-edge research insight into reliable, end-to-end discovery pipelines - and build the world-class team to execute it. Location: Berlin, Germany (on-site). Visa sponsorship is not available - candidates must be eligible to work in Germany without employer sponsorship. What You'll Do • Define and champion the research thesis for AI-native materials discovery; set high-impact research bets and long-horizon strategy. • Identify where existing ML paradigms fall short for physical matter and specify what needs to be invented instead. • Lead development of a Materials World Model that bridges experiments, simulations, and learned representations. • Collaborate closely with Programs, Hardware & Automation, and Software Architecture teams to embed research into end-to-end autonomous discovery loops. • Ensure models stay grounded in physical reality and experimental feedback - not just abstract data. • Balance ambitious long-horizon research goals with near-term deliverables and milestones. • Build, hire, mentor, and challenge a multi-disciplinary team of senior ML researchers and scientists. • Foster a culture of deep thinking, honest evaluation, scientific taste, and intellectual courage. • Influence the broader scientific community through collaborations and a clear, opinionated point of view on future directions. What We're Looking For Required: • Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in machine learning, physics, chemistry, or a closely related field. • 7+ years of machine learning research experience, including demonstrated leadership of senior individual contributors or head-of-team responsibility. • Deep expertise in physics-informed machine learning, representation learning, or foundation models applied to materials science or related physical domains. • Proven ability to build end-to-end discovery pipelines that integrate experiments, simulations, and models. • Track record of setting and influencing a research agenda - defining thesis, prioritizing under uncertainty, and making irreversible bets. • Strong intuition for physical systems, chemistry, and their constraints. • Excellent cross-disciplinary communication skills; ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders and external collaborators. • Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus. • Eligibility to work in Germany without employer visa sponsorship. Nice to Have: • Background in scientific ML areas such as equivariant neural networks, generative models for molecules/materials, or multi-fidelity modeling. • Experience in automated or autonomous laboratory environments. • Familiarity with the energy materials landscape (e.g., batteries, catalysts, photovoltaics). • Prior experience at a research institution, national laboratory, or deeptech startup. Compensation & Benefits Compensation details are not publicly listed for this role. A competitive package commensurate with the seniority and strategic importance of this position will be discussed during the interview process. Location This is a full-time, on-site role based in Berlin, Germany. Candidates must be willing and eligible to work in Berlin without employer-sponsored visa support. Find more English Speaking Jobs in Germany on Arbeitnow

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