Senior Lead Data Scientist / ML Engineer

Role: Senior Lead Data Scientist / ML Engineer

Location: Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Santa Clara (Hybrid/Remote with Travel

Job Type: Full-Time

Experience Required: 12 - 18 years

Travel: Required (based on location)

Relocation Support: Provided

Interview Process: 5 rounds (2 Technical, 2 Leadership, 1 Sales)

Reporting to: Associate VP – AI & Analytics Sales

We are looking for an experienced Senior Lead Data Scientist / ML Engineer with strong pre-sales expertise, leadership abilities, and technical proficiency in machine learning, AI, neural networks, and deep learning technologies. This role requires a blend of thought leadership, technical depth, and client engagement.

The ideal candidate will drive AI/ML solutions, collaborate with sales teams, and lead a team to build and deploy innovative AI models.

Key Responsibilities:

Pre-Sales & Client Engagement:

• Collaborate with sales and business development teams to define AI/ML solutions based on client needs.
• Lead technical discussions, deliver proof-of-concepts (PoCs), and develop AI strategies for enterprise clients.
• Present AI/ML capabilities and demonstrate value propositions to prospective customers.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Guide and mentor a team of data scientists and ML engineers.
• Implement best practices for ML model design, validation, and deployment.
• Define strategic AI initiatives aligned with business goals and market trends.

Classical Machine Learning & Statistical Modeling:

• Develop models using regression, classification, clustering, and ensemble methods.
• Optimize data pipelines, feature engineering processes, and model selection strategies.
• Implement model performance monitoring and tuning.

Deep Learning & Generative AI:

• Work on deep learning models using TensorFlow, PyTorch, and transformer-based architectures.
• Design and deploy computer vision, NLP, and recommendation systems.
• Explore generative AI models (GANs, VAEs, transformer architectures) for innovative use cases.

Project Execution & MLOps:

• Lead end-to-end ML projects – from data exploration to deployment and maintenance.
• Implement MLOps best practices (CI/CD, containerization, model versioning).
• Work with DevOps teams to integrate ML solutions into enterprise infrastructure.

Stakeholder Management & Communication:

• Act as a technical advisor to executive leadership, product managers, and clients.
• Translate complex AI/ML concepts into business-friendly language.
• Drive AI adoption and data-driven decision-making within client organizations.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field (preferred).
• 12+ years of industry experience in data science and ML engineering, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Pre-Sales: Strong experience in client-facing roles, proposal development, and AI solutioning.
• Machine Learning: Expertise in supervised & unsupervised learning, feature engineering, and model tuning.
• Deep Learning: Hands-on experience with CNNs, RNNs, transformers, and generative AI models.
• Programming: Proficient in Python with experience in AI/ML frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch.
• MLOps & Cloud: Experience in CI/CD pipelines, Docker/Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Proven ability to mentor teams and drive AI/ML strategy.
• Strong presentation and communication skills for C-level stakeholders.
• Experience with agile methodologies and multi-project management

Nice to Have Qualifications:

• Experience in Big Data ecosystems (Spark, Hadoop).
• Knowledge of DevOps tools (Jenkins, Terraform) for infrastructure automation.
• Published research or open-source AI contributions.

Work Arrangement & Travel Requirements:

• Hybrid for candidates based in Dallas or Santa Clara.
• Remote with travel for candidates in Chicago, New York, or Atlanta.
• Relocation support is available for those moving to the development hubs.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be a US Citizen, Green Card Holder, or H1B (willing to transfer to the client).
• Strong technical and leadership background in enterprise AI/ML solutions.
• Experience working in large-scale IT services firms is preferred.

Application Process:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Contact Person: Elvis Eckardt