[Remote] AI Applied Scientist - PhD Intern, Foundational AQ & EQ

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Zillow is a leading real estate platform in the U.S., and they are seeking a PhD Research Intern for their Applied Science AQ/EQ Foundation team. The role involves conducting research in foundational models and agentic AI systems, focusing on fine-tuning large language models and designing automated workflows to enhance the home-buying experience. Responsibilities Researching and developing techniques for fine-tuning LLMs with domain-specific data Applying reinforcement learning to optimize model performance for user-centric outcome Designing and prototyping agentic workflows that can autonomously perform tasks and assist home buyers Collaborating with cross-functional teams to evaluate and deploy research prototypes Sharing insights through presentations, documentation, and potentially publications Skills Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field with a strong publication record Candidates should have a background in one or more of the following areas: Advanced research in natural language processing (NLP) and/or reinforcement learning (RL) Practical experience fine-tuning and adapting large language models (LLMs) for specific use cases Familiarity with the design and implementation of automated/ agentic workflows Deep understanding of LLMs, hands on experience of post-training with the most popular OSS models Proficiency in Python and modern ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) Excited about applying advanced AI methods to impactful, real-world problems Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment Strong research mindset, with motivation to publish Company Overview Zillow is an online real estate marketplace for finding and sharing information about homes, real estate, and mortgages. It is a sub-organization of Zillow Group. It was founded in 2005, and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA, with a workforce of 5001-10000 employees. Its website is Company H1B Sponsorship Zillow has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 179 in 2025, 150 in 2024, 171 in 2023, 256 in 2022, 239 in 2021, 195 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.