Research Scientist - Materials Science and Engineering

$89K - $148K Niskayuna, NY, US Mid Level Research Scientist

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About This Role

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GE Vernova Research\-Advanced Research is looking for a Research Scientist

–Materials Science and Engineering. You will contribute to and lead the development of projects and technologies related to energy storage and conversion, such as Li ion and Li metal batteries, solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells, as well as high temperature coating materials, thermal barrier coating. This role will have exciting opportunities to help define and develop sustainable solutions to the biggest challenges in the ongoing Energy Transition and sustainable fuels, which is the core of GE Vernova business.

GE Vernova’s Advanced Research Center is the central innovation engine for GE Vernova’s portfolio of energy businesses. The research organization is made up of 300\+ researchers representing virtually every major scientific and engineering discipline. Collectively, they are driving major research programs and initiatives to decarbonize power, accelerate renewables, and promote electrification and the creation of a 21st century grid fit to power a zero\-carbon energy future.

Job Description

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Job Description

  • As a Research Scientist – Materials Science and Engineering, you will:
  • Conduct and lead projects in energy storage and conversion, Li ion and solid state Li metal batteries, solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells, as well as high temperature materials, thermal barrier coating.
  • Conduct and lead basic \& applied research including materials discovery, process development and optimization, batteries and fuel cells testing, postmortem analysis, advance materials characterization, performance \& stability data analysis and modelling.
  • Work independently and guide development of new technologies and capabilities to enable the use of solid state Li metal batteries, solid oxide cells in existing and new products. Design \& execute experiments, and independently lead tasks to benefit GE businesses and customers.
  • Shape proposals with GE Vernova businesses, government agencies, universities, and national laboratories. Contribute and lead proposal teams as Principal Investigator or as a team member.
  • Formulate system requirements for energy storage and conversion projects.
  • Prepare written reports and presentations for stakeholders that describe the value, strategy \& approach and results of the work.
  • Coordinate analytical work to define, meet or exceed customer entitlements.
  • Develop and identify new technology, products and service opportunities in the area of energy conversion and storage.
  • Connect the organization to the latest technology developments and trends.
  • Be aware of competing and disruptive technologies and leverage that knowledge to develop robust technology for the business

Required Qualifications

  • Doctorate Degree in Materials Science, Ceramics, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, or a related field with at least 2 years of hands\-on experience in fabricating solid\-state Li\-ion/Li\-metal batteries, solid oxide cells, or fuel systems. OR Master’s Degree in the aforementioned fields with at least 5–7 years of progressive hands\-on experience in the development of Li\-ion/Li\-metal batteries, solid oxide cells, and fuel formulation/production systems.
  • Proven track record of innovation in energy storage and conversion, evidenced by at least 2 years of experience in the end\-to\-end lifecycle of battery cell assembly, ceramic processing, and system integration. This includes demonstrated proficiency in materials synthesis, advanced coating technologies, and performance testing protocols.
  • At least 2 years of experience maintaining a safe, compliant research environment and performing rigorous hazard assessments.
  • Demonstrated experience in project management and cross\-functional collaboration, with at least 2 years of experience leading or contributing to project teams. Must show a proven ability to coordinate effectively across all organizational functions and technical levels to achieve project milestones.

Eligibility Requirement

  • Must be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY.
  • Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals at the Masters level for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.
  • Must be 18 years or older.
  • You must submit your application for employment at https://careers.gevernova.com/to be considered.

Desired Characteristics

  • Expertise in hands on Electrochemistry device fabrication, cell assembly, electrochemical characterization, material synthesis, process development, performance and stability testing, ceramic processing, postmortem analysis and material characterization
  • Experience at a commercial solid oxide cell manufacturer or at a government research facility in the area of solid oxide fuel cells or electrolysis cells
  • Experience in hands on organic synthesis, functionalization, polymer engineering, and PFAS remediation
  • Demonstrated history of project leadership, publications and IP generation in the area of solid oxide fuel and/or electrolysis cells
  • Strong data analytical skills, demonstrated creative problem\-solving skills using innovative and hands\-on solutions.
  • Self\-motivated and ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Strong interpersonal skills, highly motivated, self\-confidence and have goals for a career in industrial research.
  • Ability to adapt to change and willingness to be flexible in a global team environment.
  • Demonstrated history of project leadership, publications and IP generation
  • Strong data analytical skills, demonstrated creative problem\-solving skills using innovative and hands\-on solutions.
  • Self\-motivated and ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Strong interpersonal skills, highly motivated, self\-confidence and have goals for a career in industrial research.
  • Ability to adapt to change and willingness to be flexible in a global team environment.

GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Vernova will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).

Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes

For candidates applying to a U.S. based position, the pay range for this position is between $89,300\.00 and $148,700\.00\. The Company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120% or 130% of salary in certain areas. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set.

Bonus eligibility: discretionary annual bonus.

This posting is expected to remain open for at least seven days after it was posted on August 11, 2026\.

Available benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse\-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan, a tax\-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability benefits, life insurance, 12 paid holidays, and permissive time off.

GE Vernova Inc. or its affiliates (collectively or individually, “GE Vernova”) sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs GE Vernova reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace, or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a GE Vernova welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

Salary Context

This $89K-$148K range is in the lower quartile for Research Scientist roles in our dataset (median: $195K across 149 roles with salary data).

Role Details

Company GE Vernova
Title Research Scientist - Materials Science and Engineering
Location Niskayuna, NY, US
Category Research Scientist
Experience Mid Level
Salary $89K - $148K
Remote No

About This Role

Research Scientists push the boundaries of what AI can do. They design experiments, develop novel architectures, publish papers, and translate research breakthroughs into production capabilities. This is where the fundamental advances happen, from attention mechanisms to diffusion models to reasoning chains.

The work is intellectually demanding and often ambiguous. You might spend months on an approach that doesn't pan out. The best research scientists combine deep mathematical intuition with engineering pragmatism. They know when to go deep on theory and when to run experiments. They read papers voraciously and can spot incremental contributions from genuine breakthroughs.

Across the 4,317 AI roles we're tracking, Research Scientist positions make up 4% of the market. At GE Vernova, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.

Research Scientist roles are concentrated at major AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR) and well-funded AI startups. The competition is intense. PhD is effectively required for most positions, and publication track record matters. Compensation is among the highest in AI, reflecting both the scarcity of talent and the strategic importance of research breakthroughs.

What the Work Looks Like

A typical week includes: reading and discussing recent papers with your team, designing and running experiments on multi-GPU clusters, analyzing results and iterating on hypotheses, writing up findings for internal review or publication, and collaborating with engineering teams to productionize promising results. The ratio of thinking to coding is higher than in engineering roles.

Research Scientist roles are concentrated at major AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR) and well-funded AI startups. The competition is intense. PhD is effectively required for most positions, and publication track record matters. Compensation is among the highest in AI, reflecting both the scarcity of talent and the strategic importance of research breakthroughs.

Skills in Demand for This Role

Python (52% of roles) Aws (28% of roles) Azure (22% of roles) Rag (21% of roles) Gcp (15% of roles) Pytorch (15% of roles) Prompt Engineering (14% of roles) Kubernetes (13% of roles)

PhD strongly preferred for most roles. Deep expertise in a specific area (NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, multimodal) is expected. PyTorch is the standard. Publication track record matters. Strong mathematical foundations in linear algebra, probability, optimization, and information theory are assumed.

Beyond the fundamentals, companies value experience with large-scale distributed training, novel architecture design, and the ability to bridge theory and practice. Understanding of current frontier topics (reasoning, multimodal, long-context, alignment) is essential. Code quality matters more than many researchers expect. Labs want researchers who can implement their ideas cleanly.

Strong research postings specify the research area, mention the team you'd join, and describe the problems they're working on. They often list recent publications from the team. Vague 'AI research' postings without specifics usually mean the company wants to sound impressive but doesn't have a real research agenda.

Compensation Benchmarks

Research Scientist roles pay a median of $222,200 based on 378 positions with disclosed compensation. Mid-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $194,400. This role's midpoint ($119K) sits 46% below the category median. Disclosed range: $89K to $148K.

Across all AI roles, the market median is $215,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $266,300. The 90th percentile reaches $320,790. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Safety ($287,500) and Research Engineer ($272,100). By seniority level: Entry: $110,000; Mid: $194,400; Senior: $227,400; Director: $274,554; VP: $241,000.

GE Vernova AI Hiring

GE Vernova has 9 open AI roles right now. They're hiring across AI/ML Engineer, Research Scientist, Research Engineer. Positions span Niskayuna, NY, US, Remote, US. Compensation range: $148K - $219K.

Location Context

Across all AI roles, 15% (635 positions) offer remote work, while 3,657 require on-site attendance. Top AI hiring metros: New York (1,650 roles, $220,000 median); San Francisco (1,335 roles, $265,000 median); Los Angeles (708 roles, $214,112 median).

Career Path

Common paths into Research Scientist roles include PhD Student, Research Engineer, Postdoc.

From here, career progression typically leads toward Research Lead, Distinguished Scientist, VP of Research.

The PhD is the entry point for most paths. Choose your advisor and research area carefully since they'll define your first industry position. Publish consistently, contribute to open-source projects in your area, and build relationships at conferences. Industry research offers better compensation and compute resources than academia, but the pressure to show product impact is real.

What to Expect in Interviews

Research interviews are multi-stage: a research talk (present your best paper), technical deep-dives on your methodology, and often a 'research proposal' exercise where you design an experiment to test a hypothesis. Coding rounds test implementation ability alongside theoretical knowledge. Be prepared to implement a paper from scratch and discuss the design choices the authors made. Strong candidates can critique papers constructively and identify gaps in experimental methodology.

When evaluating opportunities: Strong research postings specify the research area, mention the team you'd join, and describe the problems they're working on. They often list recent publications from the team. Vague 'AI research' postings without specifics usually mean the company wants to sound impressive but doesn't have a real research agenda.

AI Hiring Overview

The AI job market has 4,317 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 138 entry-level, 2,071 mid-level, 1,655 senior, and 453 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 15% of the market (635 positions). The remaining 3,657 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.

The market median for AI roles is $215,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $266,300. The 90th percentile reaches $320,790. Highest-paying categories: AI Safety ($287,500 median, 34 roles); Research Engineer ($272,100 median, 227 roles); AI Engineering Manager ($244,000 median, 23 roles).

Research Scientist roles are concentrated at major AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR) and well-funded AI startups. The competition is intense. PhD is effectively required for most positions, and publication track record matters. Compensation is among the highest in AI, reflecting both the scarcity of talent and the strategic importance of research breakthroughs.

The AI Job Market Today

The AI job market spans 4,317 open positions across 15 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (3,004), Data Scientist (345), AI Software Engineer (309). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.

The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (138) are outnumbered by mid-level (2,071) and senior (1,655) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 453 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.

Remote work availability sits at 15% of all AI roles (635 positions), with 3,657 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.

AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $215,000. Top-quartile roles start at $266,300, and the 90th percentile reaches $320,790. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.

Category matters for compensation. AI Safety roles lead at $287,500 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $145,000. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.

The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Python (2,249 postings), Aws (1,224 postings), Azure (938 postings), Rag (915 postings), Gcp (660 postings), Pytorch (640 postings), Prompt Engineering (624 postings), Kubernetes (559 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on 378 roles with disclosed compensation, the median salary for Research Scientist positions is $222,200. Actual compensation varies by seniority, location, and company stage.
PhD strongly preferred for most roles. Deep expertise in a specific area (NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, multimodal) is expected. PyTorch is the standard. Publication track record matters. Strong mathematical foundations in linear algebra, probability, optimization, and information theory are assumed.
About 15% of the 4,317 AI roles we track offer remote work. Remote availability varies by company and seniority level, with senior and leadership roles more likely to offer location flexibility.
GE Vernova is among the companies actively hiring for AI and ML talent. Check our company profiles for detailed breakdowns of open roles, salary ranges, and hiring trends.
Common next steps from Research Scientist positions include Research Lead, Distinguished Scientist, VP of Research. Progression depends on whether you lean toward technical depth, people management, or product strategy.

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