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