Machine Learning Researcher

Job description

AI Systems is a department in the AI & Algorithms expertise center that develops advanced AI compute solutions involving AI models, algorithms, implementations, sensors and hardware for small scale edge up to large scale distributed and hybrid hardware architectures.

Within the AI Systems department, the AI Models group focuses on algorithmic and application research in the domain of AI and scientific simulations to drive SW-HW-Technology co-optimization and develop novel ML/Hybrid-AI methods for semiconductor processing and health applications. We are strengthening our AI Models group in Machine Learning research and optimization techniques. This position is within AI Models group based in Leuven, Belgium.

What you will do

• Post-train decoder-based models using reinforcement learning for better (more accurate, faster) answering data that resides in a proprietary space.
• Post-train decoder-based models to act as orchestrator components in agentic systems.
• Follow-up the evolving state of the art in the field of reinforcement learning.
• Apply the  RL-based approach to multimodal datasets (text, audio, image, video) and agentic workflows.
• Performance projection of AI/ML algorithms for custom architectures to enable SW-HW codesign.

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth. 

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits. 

Who you are

• You have a PhD, preferable in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent.
• You have experience with RL/Agentic systems/Foundation models.
• Experience with RAG pipelines and hybrid retrieval
• Experience with benchmarking and evaluation of agentic/multimodal AI systems.
• Experience with distributed training frameworks (e.g., Ray, Dask, PyTorch Lightning).
• Strong background in algorithmic optimization techniques like quantization, pruning, and distributed training methodologies.
• Prior experience with HPC/CUDA/optimizing AI workload for Compute System Architectures is a plus.
• You are a team player and have strong communication skills.
• Your English is fluent, both speaking and writing.

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.