2026 PhD Residency, Computer Vision (Tapestry)

InternshipMountain View, CA (HQ)

About Tapestry

Tapestry is Alphabet’s moonshot for the electric grid, working at the frontier where energy’s complexity meets AI’s potential. We were born at X, the innovation lab responsible for breakthrough technologies like Waymo, Verily and Google Brain.

To keep pace with humanity’s growing energy needs, the world needs a grid that is visible and understandable. We provide that clarity by building advanced, AI-enabled analytical and planning tools that allow the entire energy ecosystem to plan smarter, move faster, and operate more efficiently—ensuring electricity remains reliable and affordable for everyone.

This is a global effort. Tapestry is proud to support partners in the U.S., U.K., Chile, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil as they build a cleaner, more resilient energy future. Joining Tapestry allows you to do the best work of your life as part of a multidisciplinary team of experts in AI, energy systems, software engineering and product design—all collaborating to reshape energy on a global scale. If you want to tackle problems that matter and build tools with real impact, we would love to meet you. Learn more about our team and our mission here.

About the role

This six-month PhD residency focuses on pioneering the application of Vision-Language Models (VLMs) to automate the understanding of critical electrical infrastructure and defect detection. By bridging the gap between raw imagery and actionable insights, you will help Tapestry build a more visible and resilient global power grid.

How you will make 10X Impact

  • Lead the curation and high-quality labeling of specialized datasets focusing on electrical assets and complex infrastructure defects.
  • Design and execute rigorous evaluation frameworks to benchmark Vision-Language Model performance on domain-specific imagery.
  • Partner with research scientists to fine-tune state-of-the-art models, improving their ability to reason about physical infrastructure.
  • Analyze and visualize model performance bottlenecks to drive iterative improvements in image understanding.
  • Support the exploration of model distillation techniques to bring advanced research capabilities toward real-world deployment.
  • Collaborate across engineering and research teams to integrate vision insights into the core Tapestry digital twin.

What you should have:

  • Currently pursuing a PhD or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with a focus on machine learning.
  • Strong foundational knowledge in deep learning, particularly within the domains of computer vision and natural language processing.
  • Proficiency in Python and experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
  • Practical experience managing, preprocessing, and analyzing large-scale image datasets for research projects.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both specialized researchers and general engineering partners.
  • A curious, research-first mindset with a drive to see theoretical models solve tangible, physical-world problems.

It’d be great if you also had one or more of these:

  • Direct experience working with Vision-Language Models or multi-modal architectures.
  • Exposure to large-scale distributed training environments and data pipelines.
  • A portfolio of peer-reviewed publications, significant open-source contributions, or innovative research projects.
  • A creative approach to problem-solving when faced with sparse or noisy real-world data.

Our values

  • Take charge: We take initiative and own outcomes that move the mission forward.
  • Transform with purpose: We build solutions that solve real problems and create meaningful impact.
  • Be a Tapestry, not a thread: We collaborate across diverse skills and perspectives to achieve more than we can individually.
  • Always fine-tune: We stay curious, seek feedback, and refine our understanding as we learn.
  • Stay grounded: We listen openly, value different perspectives, and stay focused on what matters most.

What we offer

  • Competitive salary
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • A culture that supports growth, ownership, and meaningful impact, along with:
  • Immersion in a world-class research environment at the intersection of AI and climate tech.
  • Competitive residency stipend and housing relocation support for the duration of the program.
  • Direct mentorship from industry-leading research scientists and engineers.
  • Opportunity to work on "moonshot" problems with access to Alphabet-scale compute and resources.

The US base salary range for this position is $109,000 - $150,000 + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include benefits.

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