Principal Applied Scientist

Job description

from Adobe careers

The Opportunity

In SDC (Search, Discovery, and Content AI), we power semantic search, recommendations, and agentic experiences across Adobe’s creative ecosystem.

A core priority is knowledge-grounded AI — integrating knowledge graphs, multimodal embeddings, LLMs, and ranking systems to deeply understand intent and creative content.

We’re hiring a Principal Scientist to define how structured knowledge and foundation models work together at scale. You will architect next-generation graph-driven search, hybrid retrieval, and grounded generative systems that power real products used by millions. This is a deeply technical, high-ownership role!

What You’ll Do

You will build and evolve large-scale knowledge-grounded systems that connect queries, entities, concepts, and multimodal signals into coherent semantic architectures.

Your work will span:

• Hybrid neural-symbolic retrieval and ranking

• Structured intent modeling and entity grounding

• Multimodal representations aligned with knowledge graphs

• Graph-grounded RAG and agentic systems

You will also raise the scientific and architectural bar by:

• Defining evaluation frameworks for intent accuracy, entity grounding fidelity, graph coverage, and semantic relevance

• Establishing modeling and experimentation standards across teams

• Driving principled system building rooted in measurable impact

• Mentoring senior scientists and crafting cross-org technical direction

Expect ambiguous problems, deep technical challenges, and visible product impact!

Scope & Impact

At the P60 level, you will build semantic architecture across multiple products and set the strategic direction for knowledge grounded AI. You will architect how our knowledge-graphs and foundation models evolve in tandem. You will be a recognized authority in knowledge-centric AI systems.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience (preferred) or MS in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field

• 10+ years building and deploying large-scale AI/ML systems

• Deep expertise in knowledge graphs, information retrieval, NLP/intent modeling, multimodal learning, or LLM/RAG systems

• Proven track record delivering production-grade semantic platforms

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing ontologies or evolving domain taxonomies

• Familiarity with graph embeddings, GNNs, or hybrid graph–LLM architectures

• Experience with entity linking, semantic parsing, or large-scale indexing systems

• History of cross-organizational technical influence

What Sets You Apart

You think in systems, not isolated models.

You hold a high bar for rigor, clarity, and measurable impact.

You influence through technical depth and sound judgment.

You care about correctness — and building things that last!

About Adobe

Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.

Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We’re on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours. 

Let’s Adobe together

At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture, focus on people, purpose and community, Adobe for All, comprehensive benefits programs, the stories we tell, the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.

Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.

Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email accommodations@adobe.com or call +1 408-536-3015. 

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews:
Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI — and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it’s restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience.

 

Expected Pay Range:

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several  U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $206,300 -- $388,000 annually. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.

 

In California, the pay range for this position is $268,000 - $388,000

At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short-term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans.  Non-sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short-term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).

In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.

State-Specific Notices:

California:

Fair Chance Ordinances

Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and “fair chance” ordinances.

Colorado:

Application Window Notice

If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.

Massachusetts:

Massachusetts Legal Notice

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.