Staff Machine Learning Scientist, PhD Intern Summer 2026

Unleash the world scientist within you this summer! Inspired by Richard P. Feynmans maxim You do any problem that you can regardless of field were inviting you to contribute your innovative skills in cross-industry advancement of science and humanity at VISA the technology giant at the forefront of billions of global credit payments. Were calling all physical scientists to venture into our world of ML/AI.

The mission To uncover fundamental truths hidden in the vast and largely untapped domain of Payment transactions a realm as complex and intriguing as Physical interactions. Just as scientists construct effective models to make sense of real-world data we strive to unearth elemental factors driving billions of transactions per day. With the rise of neural network-based deep learning in Physics were pioneering the use of these techniques to revolutionize global commerce.

And were sitting on a gold mine of data and potential applications in the field of payments. As the world transitions from paper and metallic currency to digital payments the need for solutions in credit fraud protection and security is accelerating. With VisaNet the worlds largest fully connected and controlled information network were at the forefront of this change and your background in mathematical modelling statistics probability big data handling and problem-solving could help shape this future. With $185T in unrealized flows the opportunity to revolutionize modes of interaction such as C2B B2B G2C and more awaits you.

Our vast data the essential simplicity of our base problems and the rapid advances in ML/AI especially Generative AI provide the perfect playground for making breakthroughs in ML/AI Data Science and Security. Join us in spearheading innovations in Foundational Machine Learning and leading-edge AI with ample opportunity to drive patents and papers in top conferences and journals.  This summer turn the world of commerce into your laboratory. Apply for our internship program and lets reshape the future together!

This position is for a Staff Machine Learning Scientist Intern with understanding and experience in deep learning who may be interested in applying deep learning to the world of payments:

• You can be part of a team building AI solutions used by billions of Visa cardholders pushing the boundaries and tradeoffs among accuracy latency throughput and cost.
• Or you can apply the breakthroughs of transformers and high-performance computing to financial data -- Visa has a unique dataset of decades of financial transactions -- with a unique dataset we have an opportunity to create unique generative models that no one else can.
• Or you can build tools and processes for experimentation simulation testing and validation of AI models merging advanced AI techniques with Gen AI capabilities -- this unique combination not only ensures the observability of AI models but also enhances their interpretability paving the way for clear and comprehensive insights.
• Or you can help create a forward-looking AI Governance solution to solve new challenges brought by Generative AI including solutions to issues of AI fairness and explain-ability.
• Last but not the least you can join the efforts of synthetic data engineering which looks to create an efficient data factory running various learning and generative models for Visas data at scale while respecting all requirements for security compliance and privacy.

Some job duties and projects could include

• Collaborate with the team manager of the embedded team to come up with a proposal of work that bridges Deep Learning knowledge with a problem that the team is trying to solve.
• Execute the proposal with coding and design in Visas engineering environment and datacenters with a demo that showcases the contribution made during the visit.
• Evangelize and grow deep learning knowledge within the team and outside based on the work.

Qualifications :

Basic Qualifications

• Students pursuing a Ph.D. with a graduation date in December 2026 or later
• Strong communications skills specifically the absence of repeated grammatical or typographical errors clear and concise written and spoken communications that demonstrate professional judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in innovative and new areas such as Machine Learning Deep Learning MLOps.
• Experience with hands-on development solving a range of modeling problems e.g Predictive Modeling Reinforcement Learning Large Language Models (LLMs)
• History of published papers or conference presentations on Deep Learning
• Experience in software engineering with the ability to develop large scale and low latency infrastructure for deep learning data modeling and system evaluation.
• Experience in using at least one mainstream deep learning frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow).
• Understanding of Transformer architectures and their applications.
• Familiarity with the latest advancements in LLMs and generative AI technologies.
• Author for publications at top-ranked peer-reviewed AI conferences/journals.
• Expertise in at least one of the following: Golang Java Python or C/C

Additional Information :

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated hourly range for a new hire into this position is $62/hr to $68/hr which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge skills experience and location.

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager. 

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk communicate in person and by telephone frequently operate standard office equipment such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation gender identity disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Intern