Head of AI Research

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.