Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

Director, AI Research - Recursive Self-Improvement

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc • $180K — $220K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Enterprise Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Machine Learning, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership in AI/ML research with impactful publications or production systems.
  • Deep expertise in reinforcement learning, including reward modeling and training pipelines.
  • Hands-on experience with AI-for-systems problems like code generation and optimization.
  • Experience leading research teams and setting technical direction across multiple programs.

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive AMD's recursive self-improvement research agenda using AI.
  • Build, lead, and mentor a team of AI researchers and engineers, setting the hiring bar and technical standards.
  • Drive research focused on kernel optimization and design-space exploration with measurable improvements.
  • Design and manage verification infrastructure for safe self-improvement systems.
  • Address challenges of self-improving systems, creating programs to detect and mitigate failure modes.
  • Collaborate with silicon, architecture, and engineering teams to integrate research into development flows.
  • Set and monitor goals regarding performance gains and cycle-time reduction.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, wellness, and retirement plans.
  • Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the company.
  • Flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.
Full Job Description
THE ROLE:

AMD is looking for a Director of AI Research to lead AMD's recursive self-improvement (RSI) agenda: using AI-and reinforcement learning in particular-to make AMD's hardware design, kernel and compiler optimization, and engineering workflows measurably better, then feeding those gains back into the loop.

THE PERSON:

This is a deeply technical leadership role aimed squarely inside AMD. You will build and lead a research team, set the technical direction for the RSI flywheel, and partner across silicon, software, compiler, and engineering-productivity teams to turn research into compounding internal advantage. The ideal candidate is a recognized AI researcher who can go deep on RL training and systems and has strong opinions about what makes self-improving loops actually work (and where they break). We are open to candidates who want to remain hands-on as player-coaches as well as those who lead primarily through their teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Define and own AMD's internal recursive self-improvement research agenda-where AI improves AMD's hardware, kernels, compilers, and engineering workflows, and how those gains compound over time
  • Build, lead, and mentor a high-caliber team of AI researchers and research engineers; set research direction, hiring bar, and standards for technical rigor
  • Drive RL-based research on concrete internal targets-kernel and PPA optimization, design-space exploration, and code/workflow generation-grounded in measurable, verifiable improvement
  • Design and own the verification and evaluation infrastructure (fast simulators, "slice" verifiers, benchmarks) needed to run self-improvement loops safely and trust their results
  • Confront the hard failure modes of self-improving systems directly-reward hacking, evaluation gaming, and reward-signal scaling-and build research programs to detect and mitigate them
  • Partner deeply with silicon, architecture, compiler, and engineering-productivity teams to embed research into real AMD design and development flows
  • Set and track measurable goals for the program-verified performance gains, cycle-time reduction, and the rate at which improvements feed back into the loop
  • Drive AMD's broader move toward AI-native engineering, helping rearchitect how internal teams build hardware and software around AI in the loop
  • Represent the RSI research agenda to executive leadership; communicate progress, risks, and roadmap implications to both technical and business audiences
  • Stay at the frontier of RL and AI-for-systems research and translate emerging techniques into internal opportunity


PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

  • Demonstrated technical leadership in AI/ML research, with a track record of impactful published work and/or research shipped into production systems
  • Deep, current expertise in reinforcement learning, including reward modeling, training pipelines, and the practical failure modes of RL at scale
  • Hands-on understanding of AI-for-systems problems-code generation, compiler/kernel optimization, design-space exploration, or hardware/software co-design
  • Experience building coding RL loops
  • Experience leading research teams and setting technical direction across multiple concurrent programs
  • Ability to remain hands-on with training pipelines, kernels, or research prototyping while leading a team
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with a track record of embedding research into engineering organizations
  • Track record of attracting, hiring, and developing top AI research talent


ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
  • PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Machine Learning, or a related field, or equivalent research experience and demonstrated impact


Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

About Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Careers

Join the innovative forefront of technology with a career at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), a leader in semiconductor development. As part of our global team, you will contribute to an organization renowned for its dedication to innovation, leadership, and diversity in the tech industry.

Work You’ll Do

At AMD, we offer job opportunities that push the boundaries of what is possible. Our team is composed of professionals who lead the way in microprocessor and graphics technology, driving industry standards and innovation. With AMD, you will be part of a culture that values growth and professional development, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to excel.

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AMD is not just about advancing technology, but also about advancing careers. Whether you are looking for an internship, a full-time position, or leadership roles, AMD provides the platform to propel your career to new heights. Our commitment to professional growth is matched by our dedication to diversity and inclusion, making AMD a place where everyone can thrive.

Innovative Work Environment

Join a team of over 12,000 dedicated professionals at the intersection of technology, industry expertise, and digital innovation. At AMD, you will work on groundbreaking projects that shape the future of computing and graphics. Our collaborative environment encourages networking and the sharing of ideas across teams and disciplines.

Career Development and Benefits

AMD is committed to the development of its employees. We offer robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training, to ensure our team is equipped for both current challenges and future opportunities. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being and financial security of our employees and their families.

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Learn more about Advanced Micro Devices, Inc
Size
15,500 employees
Market Cap
$100.9 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$2.4 billion
Founded
1969
5 Year Trend
+30.9%
Revenue
$9.7 billion
NASDAQ
AMD
* Ladders Estimates

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