How to Apply to Samsung SDS

10 min read Last updated April 16, 2026 4 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Research America is the U.S. R&D arm of Samsung Electronics — combining global corporate resources with American research lab culture
  • Applications are processed through Greenhouse ATS — format your resume with standard sections and clean single-column layout
  • Research roles heavily value PhD credentials, publication records at top conferences, and patent contributions
  • The interview process includes a formal research talk for scientist roles — prepare at conference presentation quality
  • SRA works at the intersection of research and product deployment across AI, 5G/6G, AR/VR, and semiconductors
  • Cross-cultural collaboration is essential — SRA coordinates closely with Samsung R&D centers in Korea and globally
  • Patent output is a significant metric — demonstrate ability to translate research into intellectual property

About Samsung SDS

Samsung Research America (SRA) is the U.S.-based research and development arm of Samsung Electronics, the South Korean conglomerate with approximately 270,000 employees worldwide. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, SRA operates additional offices across the United States including locations in Dallas, San Jose, and Irvine. The division focuses on next-generation technology research spanning artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G telecommunications, augmented and virtual reality, semiconductor design, and mobile platform innovation. SRA occupies a distinctive position in the technology landscape — it combines the resources and global reach of one of the world's largest electronics companies with the research culture of an academic lab. Engineers and researchers at SRA publish papers at top-tier conferences (NeurIPS, CVPR, ICLR, AAAI), file patents that shape Samsung's product roadmap, and prototype technologies that reach billions of devices. Samsung's patent portfolio is among the largest in the world, and SRA contributes significantly to that output. If you thrive at the intersection of rigorous research and product impact at massive scale, SRA offers a rare environment. The culture at Samsung Research America reflects a blend of Korean corporate values — respect for hierarchy, long-term commitment, collective achievement — and American R&D lab sensibilities — open technical debate, individual initiative, and publication culture. This hybrid identity shapes everything from how teams are organized to how decisions get made. Understanding and navigating this cultural blend is important for anyone considering a role at SRA. Research roles strongly value PhDs, particularly in AI/ML, signal processing, and computer vision, while engineering roles prioritize demonstrated ability to build production-quality systems.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Find Open Positions on Samsung Research America Careers

    Visit Samsung Research America's career page to browse open positions. Roles are organized across research areas including AI and machine learning, 5G/6G communications, AR/VR, semiconductor design, mobile platforms, and software engineering. Read the full job description carefully — SRA positions often list specific publication expectations, patent contribution goals, or technical domain requirements that distinguish them from standard industry roles. Pay attention to whether a role is classified as Research Engineer, Software Engineer, AI/ML Researcher, or Hardware Engineer, as each track has different expectations and interview formats.

  2. 2
    Submit Your Application Through Greenhouse

    Samsung Research America uses Greenhouse as its applicant tracking system. Your resume will be processed by Greenhouse's parsing engine, so submit a cleanly formatted PDF or DOCX file with standard section headers. Complete all required fields and any custom questions in the application form. For research positions, you may be asked to provide links to your Google Scholar profile, published papers, or a research statement. For engineering positions, links to GitHub repositories or technical portfolios can strengthen your application. Referral applications receive priority review — if you know someone at SRA, ask them to submit an internal referral before you apply.

  3. 3
    Recruiter Phone Screen

    If your application advances, a Samsung Research America recruiter will contact you for a 30-45 minute phone screen. This conversation covers your background, interest in SRA specifically, and alignment with the role requirements. For research positions, expect questions about your research trajectory and why you want to do research in an industry lab versus academia. For engineering positions, the recruiter will probe your technical background and experience with relevant technology stacks. Be prepared to articulate why Samsung Research America — not just Samsung broadly — interests you, and what specific research areas or products you want to contribute to.

  4. 4
    Technical Phone Interview or Coding Assessment

    The next stage involves a technical evaluation tailored to the role type. Research roles typically include a research presentation or technical deep-dive where you present your work to a panel of SRA researchers, followed by technical questions about your methodology, experimental design, and potential applications. Engineering roles involve one or two technical phone interviews covering data structures, algorithms, system design, and domain-specific knowledge. Some positions include a take-home coding assessment or a live coding session. For hardware roles, expect questions on digital design, verification methodologies, or semiconductor physics depending on the specialization.

  5. 5
    On-Site Interview Loop

    The full interview loop at Samsung Research America typically spans a full day and includes 4-6 sessions. For research positions, you will deliver a formal research talk (45-60 minutes including Q&A) to an audience of researchers and managers, followed by individual technical interviews that probe the depth of your expertise. For engineering positions, expect system design interviews, coding sessions, and domain-specific technical discussions. All candidates will have at least one behavioral interview exploring teamwork, communication, and adaptability. You will also meet with the hiring manager and potentially the team lead or director to discuss team fit and career development.

  6. 6
    Hiring Committee Review and Offer

    After the interview loop, the hiring team convenes to evaluate all feedback. Samsung Research America uses a structured evaluation process where each interviewer submits independent assessments before the debrief meeting. Decisions typically involve consensus among the interviewers and approval from the hiring manager and director level. If selected, you will receive an offer that includes base salary, annual bonus, equity (RSUs), relocation assistance if applicable, and comprehensive benefits. Samsung's total compensation packages are competitive with major tech companies, though the equity component structure differs from startups. The process from final interview to offer typically takes 1-3 weeks.

Resume Tips for Samsung SDS

critical

Lead with Research Output and Patent Activity

Samsung Research America values measurable research contributions. If you have published papers, list your publication count, top venues (NeurIPS, CVPR, ICLR, ACL), and citation metrics. If you hold patents or have filed patent applications, include the count and relevant technology areas. For example: 'Published 12 papers at top-tier ML conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR) with 800+ citations; filed 6 patents in on-device AI inference optimization.' SRA hiring managers specifically look for candidates who can contribute to both Samsung's publication presence and its intellectual property portfolio.

critical

Quantify Impact at Scale

Samsung products reach billions of users. Your resume should demonstrate experience with systems, models, or technologies that operate at significant scale. Instead of 'Improved model accuracy,' write 'Developed on-device NLP model achieving 94% accuracy with 3x inference speedup on mobile ARM processors, deployed to 50M+ devices.' Metrics that show you understand the constraints of production deployment — latency, memory footprint, power consumption, device heterogeneity — resonate strongly with SRA reviewers who build technology for Samsung's global product lines.

critical

Highlight Domain Expertise in SRA Focus Areas

Samsung Research America concentrates on specific technology domains: AI/ML (on-device inference, large language models, computer vision), 5G/6G (signal processing, network architecture, spectrum optimization), AR/VR (spatial computing, rendering, sensor fusion), and semiconductor design (advanced node processors, memory architecture). Tailor your resume to emphasize experience in the domain matching your target role. Use the specific technical vocabulary from the job description — SRA roles often use precise terminology that maps directly to their research agendas.

critical

Format for Greenhouse ATS Parsing

Greenhouse handles resume parsing well with standard formatting. Use a single-column layout with clear section headers (Experience, Education, Publications, Skills, Patents). Stick to standard fonts at 10-11pt. Avoid tables, graphics, columns, or text boxes that can confuse the parser. Use consistent date formats (Month Year — Month Year) and include your job titles exactly as they were. For academic candidates transitioning to SRA, prioritize a professional resume format over a full academic CV — keep it to 2 pages unless you have extensive publications that are directly relevant.

recommended

Include a Dedicated Publications or Patents Section

If you have published research or hold patents, create a dedicated section rather than burying these achievements within job descriptions. List your 3-5 most relevant publications with venue names and years. For patents, include the technology area and patent numbers if granted. This section is especially important for research roles where hiring managers scan for venue quality and topical relevance before reading the rest of your resume. If you have a Google Scholar page or ORCID, include the link.

recommended

Demonstrate Cross-Cultural Collaboration Experience

Samsung Research America works closely with Samsung's R&D centers in South Korea, India, and other global offices. Experience collaborating across time zones, cultures, and organizational structures is valued. Include examples like 'Coordinated with 3 international research teams across US, Korea, and India to deliver unified AI framework on a 6-month timeline.' If you have experience working with Korean companies or in multinational environments, mention it explicitly — it signals awareness of SRA's operating context.

nice_to_have

Show Progression from Research to Product Impact

SRA bridges pure research and Samsung product development. Candidates who can show a track record of research that led to shipped products, deployed systems, or measurable business outcomes stand out. Describe the full arc: 'Developed novel image super-resolution algorithm (published ECCV 2024), which was subsequently integrated into Samsung Galaxy camera pipeline, reducing noise artifacts by 35% in low-light conditions.' This research-to-product narrative is exactly what SRA leadership looks for.

ATS System: Greenhouse

Samsung Research America uses Greenhouse to manage its hiring pipeline. Greenhouse is one of the most widely adopted ATS platforms among technology companies, offering structured hiring workflows, resume parsing, and collaborative evaluation tools. Your application will be processed through Greenhouse's parsing engine, which extracts contact information, work history, education, and skills from your uploaded resume. The system supports both PDF and DOCX formats, though PDF is generally recommended for preserving formatting while maintaining parseability.

  • Upload your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting while ensuring accurate text extraction
  • Use standard section headers that Greenhouse recognizes: Experience, Education, Skills, Publications, Summary
  • Include the exact job title from the listing in your resume summary or experience section
  • Avoid multi-column layouts, tables, headers/footers, and embedded graphics that interfere with parsing
  • Complete all custom application questions thoroughly — SRA may include research-specific questions for scientist roles
  • If the application asks for a cover letter or research statement, treat it as an opportunity rather than an afterthought

Complete Greenhouse Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

Interviewing at Samsung Research America reflects the organization's dual identity as both a corporate R&D lab and a research institution.

The process is thorough, technically rigorous, and places significant emphasis on depth of expertise rather than breadth of general coding ability. For research positions, the centerpiece of the interview is the research talk — a formal presentation of your work to an audience of SRA researchers, typically lasting 45-60 minutes including questions. This is not a casual overview; expect detailed technical questions about your methodology, why you chose specific approaches over alternatives, how your work compares to the state of the art, and what the practical implications are for Samsung's product lines. The audience will include domain experts who have read your papers, so superficial understanding of your own published work will be immediately apparent. Prepare as you would for a top-tier conference presentation. For engineering positions, interviews focus on system design, coding proficiency, and domain knowledge. You may be asked to design large-scale systems (a real-time inference pipeline, a distributed training framework, a 5G network component) and discuss trade-offs at every layer. Coding interviews test both algorithmic thinking and practical engineering — clean, production-quality code matters more than solving the most complex puzzle possible. The cultural dimension of SRA interviews deserves specific attention. Samsung is a Korean conglomerate, and SRA operates within that corporate structure while maintaining an American R&D lab atmosphere. Interviewers value respect, humility, and collaborative orientation alongside technical excellence. Demonstrating that you can work effectively within a hierarchical organization while also contributing bold ideas and constructive challenges is important. Avoid overconfidence or dismissiveness toward team-based work — SRA values collective achievement. Behavioral interviews explore how you handle disagreement, manage competing priorities, and adapt to changing research directions. Samsung's product cycles can shift research priorities, and SRA needs people who can redirect their expertise without losing momentum. Come prepared with examples of pivoting research directions, collaborating with product teams under tight deadlines, and resolving technical disagreements constructively.

What Samsung SDS Looks For

  • PhD or equivalent research depth for research scientist and principal researcher roles — publication record matters
  • Strong publication history at top-tier venues (NeurIPS, CVPR, ICLR, ACL, AAAI) for research positions
  • Patent contributions or demonstrated ability to translate research into intellectual property
  • Deep domain expertise in SRA focus areas: AI/ML, 5G/6G, AR/VR, semiconductors, or mobile platforms
  • Experience deploying research at production scale — on-device models, real-time systems, consumer hardware
  • Cross-cultural collaboration skills and comfort working within a global, hierarchical organization
  • Ability to bridge research and product development — connecting published work to Samsung's product roadmap
  • Strong communication skills for presenting research to both technical and leadership audiences

Frequently Asked Questions

What ATS does Samsung Research America use for job applications?
Samsung Research America uses Greenhouse as its applicant tracking system. When you apply through SRA's career page, your application is processed through Greenhouse's platform, which parses your resume to extract contact information, work history, education, and skills. To ensure accurate parsing, use a cleanly formatted PDF with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills, Publications), consistent date formats, and a single-column layout. Avoid tables, graphics, and multi-column designs that can confuse the parser. Complete all application fields including any custom questions specific to the role.
What types of roles does Samsung Research America hire for?
Samsung Research America hires across several technology domains. Research positions include AI/ML Researcher, Research Scientist, and Principal Researcher in areas like computer vision, natural language processing, on-device AI, and large language models. Engineering roles include Software Engineer, Research Engineer, and Systems Engineer working on mobile platforms, cloud infrastructure, and production ML systems. Hardware positions cover semiconductor design, ASIC development, and chip verification. Additionally, SRA hires for 5G/6G telecommunications research, AR/VR development, and supporting functions like program management and technical operations. Roles span from entry-level to principal and director levels.
Does Samsung Research America require a PhD for research roles?
For Research Scientist and Principal Researcher positions, a PhD is strongly preferred and in many cases required. SRA's research roles involve publishing at top-tier conferences, filing patents, and advancing the state of the art in specific domains — activities that typically require doctoral-level training. However, Research Engineer and Software Engineer roles at SRA generally require a Master's degree or equivalent experience, and exceptional candidates with a Bachelor's degree and significant industry experience can be considered. If you have a strong publication record without a PhD, emphasize your research output prominently on your resume.
How long does the Samsung Research America hiring process take?
The SRA hiring process typically takes 4-8 weeks from application to offer. After submitting through Greenhouse, initial recruiter screens usually happen within 1-2 weeks for advancing candidates. The technical evaluation stage (phone interviews, research presentations, or coding assessments) takes another 1-2 weeks to schedule and complete. The on-site interview loop is usually scheduled within 1-2 weeks of passing the technical screen. Post-interview, the hiring committee review and offer generation typically takes 1-3 weeks. The timeline can extend for senior research positions that require director-level approval or for roles where SRA is evaluating multiple strong candidates simultaneously.
What is the work culture like at Samsung Research America?
Samsung Research America blends Korean corporate culture with American R&D lab values. The Korean influence shows in respect for organizational hierarchy, emphasis on team-based achievement, long-term thinking, and structured decision-making processes. The American R&D lab dimension manifests in open technical debate, publication culture, individual research freedom, and a relatively flat interaction style within teams. Day-to-day, SRA teams operate with significant autonomy on research direction while aligning with Samsung's broader product strategy. Regular collaboration with Samsung's Korean headquarters means working across time zones and navigating cultural differences in communication style. Employees who thrive at SRA tend to appreciate both structured organizational support and intellectual freedom.
What is Samsung Research America's approach to patents and publications?
Patent output and academic publications are both core metrics at Samsung Research America. Samsung consistently ranks among the top patent filers globally, and SRA contributes significantly to this portfolio. Researchers are encouraged — and in some teams, expected — to file patent applications for novel inventions that emerge from their work. Simultaneously, SRA maintains an active publication presence at top conferences including NeurIPS, CVPR, ICLR, AAAI, and ACL. This dual emphasis on intellectual property and academic contribution makes SRA attractive to researchers who want their work to have both commercial impact and academic recognition. When applying, highlighting both patent experience and publications signals strong alignment with SRA's values.
How should I prepare for a Samsung Research America research talk?
The research talk is the most important component of the interview process for research positions at SRA. Prepare a 30-40 minute presentation covering your most impactful research, leaving 15-20 minutes for questions. Structure your talk to cover the problem motivation, your approach and why you chose it over alternatives, experimental results with honest discussion of limitations, and the practical implications for Samsung's technology areas. The audience will include domain experts who have likely read your papers, so go deep on methodology rather than staying at a high level. Practice fielding adversarial questions about your design choices, failure cases, and scalability. Connect your research to Samsung's product areas where genuine connections exist — forced connections will be transparent to the audience.
Does Samsung Research America offer visa sponsorship?
Samsung Research America sponsors work visas including H-1B and other categories for qualified candidates, particularly in research and specialized engineering roles. As a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, SRA has established immigration processes and regularly hires international talent. The company's research positions attract candidates from global academic institutions, and SRA's legal team is experienced with the sponsorship process. If you require visa sponsorship, indicate this in your application. For research roles, strong publication records and specialized expertise strengthen sponsorship cases. Discuss specific visa questions and timelines with the recruiter during your initial phone screen.
What compensation and benefits does Samsung Research America offer?
Samsung Research America offers compensation packages that include base salary, annual performance bonuses, and equity in the form of Samsung Electronics RSUs. Total compensation is competitive with major Silicon Valley technology companies, though the structure differs from startups — SRA provides stability and predictable compensation growth rather than high-risk equity upside. Benefits include comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k) with company match, paid time off, parental leave, and professional development support including conference attendance and continuing education. Relocation assistance is available for candidates moving to SRA's office locations. Compensation varies by role level, location, and specialization, and should be discussed during the offer stage.
What are Samsung Research America's main office locations?
Samsung Research America's primary headquarters is in Mountain View, California, situated in the heart of Silicon Valley. SRA also operates research and engineering offices in several other U.S. locations including San Jose, Dallas, and Irvine. The Mountain View office is the largest and houses the majority of AI/ML research, mobile platform, and AR/VR teams. Different technology areas may be concentrated at different offices, so check the specific job listing for the assigned location. Some roles offer hybrid work arrangements, though research positions with lab or hardware components typically require regular on-site presence. Discuss location flexibility with the recruiter during your initial conversation.

Open Positions

Samsung SDS currently has 4 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 4 open positions at Samsung SDS

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Sources

  1. Samsung Research America — Careers — Samsung Research America
  2. Samsung Research America — Research Areas — Samsung Research America
  3. Samsung Electronics — About Us — Samsung Electronics