AI Research Engineer - Enterprise Automation

JOB DESCRIPTION

About NIO

NIO is a pioneer and a leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market. Founded in November 2014, NIO’s mission is to shape a joyful lifestyle. NIO aims to build a community starting with smart electric vehicles to share joy and grow together with users.

NIO designs, develops, jointly manufactures and sells premium smart electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation technologies in autonomous driving, digital technologies, electric powertrains and batteries. NIO differentiates itself through its continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, such as its industry-leading battery swapping technologies, Battery as a Service, or BaaS, as well as its proprietary autonomous driving technologies and Autonomous Driving as a Service, or ADaaS.

NIO’s product portfolio consists of the ES8, a six-seater smart electric flagship SUV, the ES7 (or the EL7), a mid-large five-seater smart electric SUV, the ES6, a five-seater all-round smart electric SUV, the EC7, a five-seater smart electric flagship coupe SUV, the EC6, a five-seater smart electric coupe SUV, the ET7, a smart electric flagship sedan, and the ET5, a mid-size smart electric sedan.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled AI Research Engineer to design, prototype, and optimize end‑to‑end AI systems that automate enterprise workflows. In this role, you’ll bridge applied research and engineering—developing cutting‑edge AI models, tools, and platforms that streamline decision‑making, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new capabilities for enterprise users.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct applied research in AI and machine learning for process automation, knowledge systems, and intelligent decision support.
• Prototype, train, and deploy models that integrate with enterprise tools (e.g., ERP, CRM, LLM interfaces, and knowledge graphs).
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams in data engineering, product, and business functions to identify automation opportunities and deploy scalable AI solutions.
• Develop pipelines and infrastructure for continuous learning and model optimization in production environments.
• Stay current with advancements in foundation models, multimodal AI, reinforcement learning, and autonomous agents, and evaluate their potential enterprise applications.
• Publish internal technical reports and contribute to the company’s intellectual property portfolio.

Required Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in applied AI/ML research or engineering.
• Solid understanding of deep learning, LLMs, and model architectures (e.g., Transformers, diffusion models).
• Skilled in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow.
• Experience building and deploying AI for enterprise automation or intelligent assistants.
• Strong software engineering background, with experience in scalable systems, APIs, and cloud environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Excellent problem‑solving and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with multi‑agent systems, data orchestration, or autonomous workflows.
• Knowledge of knowledge graphs, vector databases, or retrieval‑augmented systems.
• Familiarity with enterprise security, compliance, and data governance.
• Published research or open‑source contributions related to AI automation or applied ML.

Compensation:

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $163,500.00 - $212,400.00.

• Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

• Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only. It does not include discretionary bonus, equity, or benefits.

Benefits:

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time NIO employee, you are eligible for the following benefits on the first day you join NIO:

• CIGNA EPO, HSA, and Kaiser HMO medical plans with $0 for Employee Only Coverage.  

• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plan.  Both provide options with a $0 paycheck contribution covering you and your eligible dependents.

• Company Paid HSA (Health Savings Account) Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible CIGNA medical plan

• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) with Brokerage Link option

• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Sick and Vacation time

• 13 Paid Holidays a year

• Paid Parental Leave for first 8 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment with NIO)

• Paid Disability Leave for first 6 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment with NIO)

• Voluntary benefits including: Voluntary Life and AD&D options for you, your spouse/domestic partner and dependent child(ren), pet insurance

• Commuter benefits

• Mobile Cell Phone Credit

• Healthjoy mobile benefit app supporting you and your dependents with benefit questions on the go & support with benefit billing questions

• Free lunch and snacks

• Onsite gym

• Employee discounts and perks program