Senior Data Scientist - AI Applied Researcher

Our AI Applied Research team is at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge generative AI technologies to create impactful product features within the Datadog application. We focus on research, fine-tuning, training, and efficient deployment of LLMs, and other foundation models, to power innovative features across the Datadog platform (see Bits AI, your new DevOps copilot for example). As an applied researcher on our team, you will contribute to groundbreaking research with direct product applications, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with Foundation Models and AI Agents.
At Datadog, we place value in our office culture - the relationships and collaboration it builds and the creativity it brings to the table. We operate as a hybrid workplace to ensure our Datadogs can create a work-life harmony that best fits them.
What You'll Do:

• Conduct cutting-edge research in Generative AI and Machine Learning, with a focus on translating novel ideas into practical, high-impact product features
• Contribute to and leverage large-scale distributed fine-tuning and training infrastructures for state-of-the-art models
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate advanced AI capabilities into Datadog's product ecosystem
• Lead and contribute to research publications, presenting findings at top-tier conferences in the field
• Actively participate in our journal club, staying abreast of the latest developments in LLM and Generative AI research
• Mentor junior researchers and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and scientific rigor

Who You Are:

• You hold a PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field, with a strong focus on deep learning, reinforcement learning and natural language processing (or equivalent experience)
• You possess extensive experience in designing and implementing deep learning models, particularly in the NLP domain
• You're well-versed in distributed training frameworks (e.g., DeepSpeed, Megatron-LM) and ML development libraries such as PyTorch and TensorFlow
• You have a demonstrated ability to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical product applications
• You're passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI while maintaining a strong focus on real-world impact
• You are familiar with efficient training techniques for large foundation models and with model compression techniques
• You possess the ability to elaborate complex models and ideas to non-technical personnel

Bonus Points (any of the following):

• You have a proven track record of conducting impactful research in the field with publications at top-tier conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICLR, ICML)
• You have hands-on experience with GPU programming and optimization, including experience in CUDA
• You have experience writing production data pipelines and applications

Datadog values people from all walks of life. We understand not everyone will meet all the above qualifications on day one. That's okay. If you're passionate about technology and want to grow your skills, we encourage you to apply.
Benefits and Growth:

• Competitive global benefits
• New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
• Opportunity to collaborate closely with colleagues across the Datadog offices in New York City and Paris
• Opportunity to attend and present at conferences and meetups
• Intra-departmental mentor and buddy program for in-house networking
• An inclusive company culture, ability to join our Community Guilds (Datadog employee resource groups)

Benefits and Growth listed above may vary based on the country of your employment and the nature of your employment with Datadog.
Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, Datadog offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, parental planning, and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan.
The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role at Datadog is:
$187,000 - $240,000 USD
About Datadog:
Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG) is a global SaaS business, delivering a rare combination of growth and profitability. We are on a mission to break down silos and solve complexity in the cloud age by enabling digital transformation, cloud migration, and infrastructure monitoring of our customers' entire technology stacks. Built by engineers, for engineers, Datadog is used by organizations of all sizes across a wide range of industries. Together, we champion professional development, diversity of thought, innovation, and work excellence to empower continuous growth. Join the pack and become part of a collaborative, pragmatic, and thoughtful people-first community where we solve tough problems, take smart risks, and celebrate one another. Learn more about #DatadogLife on Instagram , LinkedIn, and Datadog Learning Center.
Equal Opportunity at Datadog:
Datadog is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and is proud to offer equal employment opportunity to everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, and more. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Here are our Candidate Legal Notices for your reference.
Your Privacy:
Any information you submit to Datadog as part of your application will be processed in accordance with Datadog's Applicant and Candidate Privacy Notice .