2025 PhD Residency - Project Origination - Deep Tech

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, AI Robotic systems, Analytical and Problem solving, Effective communication skills, Machine learning techniques

Job Description

How you will make 10x impact:

This project aims to push the limits of science and modeling as we know them and to prove how ML can radically accelerate our understanding of the world

• Location: X's headquarters in Mountain View, CA
• Start Date(s): Year-round rolling basis
• Duration: a flexible 4 mo. to 1 year program based on project team needs and your availability

Throughout your AI Residency you can expect:

• To be embedded into one of our confidential or public X projects
• To get paid competitively and receive benefits
• To be a part of a lively community of AI and ML Residents
• To attend tech-talks with AI leaders from across X

Responsibilities

Overview: This residency position is a 6 - 12 month role, focused on project origination at X. In this role, you will be working on a team applying a combination of critical thinking, networking, research, and business strategy skills to propose and assess hundreds of potential technology-enabled projects. The team's mission is to find or invent new opportunities that have a significant reach and global impact.

• Deep dives into problem spaces to identify moonshot scale opportunities
• Supporting multiple early investigations by identifying and evaluating novel technology
• Perform techno-economic analysis and feasibility analysis
• Work closely with cross-functional teams
• Roll-up your sleeves as you work to progressively de-risk moonshot ideas both from a technical and business perspective

What you should have:

• Must be enrolled in an academic program and working towards completing graduate / PhD degree
• 2+ years of work experience in one or more of the following: AI, software, robotics, manufacturing, management consulting, finance, or venture capital
• Very strong strategy and analytical skills. Ability to gather and analyze large quantities of information, and turn them into insightful business recommendations.
• Good at problem stating and problem solving, and turning ambiguous problem spaces into radical solutions. Must be able to break down problems independently
• Can-do attitude, willing to learn new tools and content to become an effective thought partner with project team
• Exceptional ability to quickly pick up new technical topics from semiconductor manufacturing to marine biology
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (writing strategy docs, writing and delivering presentations), can with senior external partners with ease

It’d be great if you also had these:

• Degree in a science or engineering field
• Thrive on ambiguity, setting own goals and effectively delivering to them in a very fast-changing environment
• Ability to influence without authority, working with technical and cross-functional teams who do not report into this role to get things done
• Motivated by making the world a better place through technology, and wanting to be part of a team that makes this happen. Excited to go deep and learn about new and experimental technologies.

Additional public information:

https://www.wired.com/video/watch/astro-teller-captain-of-moonshots-at-x-speaks-at-wired25

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2019-10-10/alphabet-x-s-astro-teller-on-bloomberg-studio-1-0-video

PLEASE NOTE:

This role requires exposure to technologies subject to heightened controls under US export laws. Due to our immediate need to fill this role and the lengthy process required to obtain export licenses, we will not be able to move forward with anyone requiring a license for such technologies. This applies to individuals ineligible for license exception "TSR" (commonly described as "controlled-country nationals") under the US Commerce Department's Export Administration Regulations. As of July 2018, a controlled country national is anyone who is a national of one of the following countries (excluding US green card holders and US citizens with dual citizenship): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cuba, the People's Republic of China, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Macau, Moldova, Mongolia, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Please review up-to-date information about the Commerce Department's export regulations, including the current list of countries, here.