Lead Applied Scientist

Tekion seeks an exceptionally talented and seasoned Staff / Lead Applied Scientist to architect the future of our AI-driven solutions. The incumbent will assume a pivotal role in our organization, providing the strategic and technical stewardship necessary to translate cutting-edge research into tangible business value. The ideal candidate is a first-principles thinker, adept at navigating ambiguity, and possesses the intellectual curiosity to formulate and solve complex, unstructured problems. This is seminal opportunity to influence the trajectory of our AI strategy and deliver transformative solutions at an enterprise scale.   

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Direction: Architect and execute the strategic vision for applied AI and Machine Learning within Tekion, ensuring rigorous alignment with overarching business objectives and industry challenges.

• Innovation & Research Leadership: Steer the R&D roadmap by identifying and capitalizing on emergent technological opportunities. Drive innovation through the ideation and implementation of novel, scientifically-grounded solutions.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Serve as the principal technical liaison between the R&D organization and executive stakeholders, ensuring technical strategies are congruent with business imperatives.

• Cross-Functional Execution: Lead collaborations with product, engineering, and business units to define, develop, and integrate sophisticated machine learning systems into core products and services.

• Scientific Contribution: Contribute to the broader scientific community through publications in premier academic conferences and journals, enhancing Tekion’s position as a center of innovation.

• Mentorship & Talent Development: Mentor and cultivate a culture of scientific rigor and innovation among applied scientists, guiding project execution and fostering professional growth.

• Impact Quantification: Establish robust frameworks for model evaluation and performance measurement. Quantify and articulate the business impact of machine learning initiatives to executive leadership.

• Governance & Best Practices: Institute and govern best practices for the entire machine learning lifecycle, including model development, validation, deployment, and monitoring, while championing ethical and responsible AI

Core Competencies & Technical Expertise

            The successful candidate will demonstrate mastery in the following areas:

• Foundational Expertise: Deep, theoretical and practical expertise in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Causal Inference, and Explainable AI.

• Statistical Rigor: Advanced proficiency in applied probability and statistics to derive and validate insights from complex, high-dimensional data.  

Deep Learning:

• Expert-level proficiency with frameworks such as TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch.

• Extensive experience implementing advanced neural network architectures.

• Practical application of Computer Vision (e.g., OpenCV) and Natural Language Processing (e.g.,spaCy) methodologies.

• Large Language Models (LLMs): Demonstrated experience with Large Language Models, including advanced prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and deployment for specific business applications.

Technical Proficiencies:

• Advanced programming skills in Python and mastery of SQL. Familiarity with distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Spark) is advantageous.

• Proficiency with cloud computing platforms (GCP, Azure, AWS).

• Expertise in experimental design (A/B testing, causal inference).

• Proficient in version control systems (Git).

Required Qualifications

• An advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.S. preferred) in a quantitative discipline such as Computer Science, Statistics, Operations Research, Physics, or a related field.

• A minimum of 7 – 9 years of post-academic experience in applied science or quantitative research roles, with a demonstrable history of translating complex models into tangible business value.

• A distinguished track record of solving difficult, business-critical problems using a scientific, data-driven approach.

• Proven experience in programming, data manipulation, and building models in a business context.

• Sophisticated data visualization and presentation skills, with the ability to distill complex analytical results into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences. 

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A profound intellectual curiosity and a systematic, first-principles approach to problem-solving.

• Domain expertise in the automotive industry or related fields such as finance or enterprise SaaS is highly desirable.

• Experience in specialized areas such as Recommendation Engines or advanced NLP is preferred.

• Exceptional communication and presentation capabilities, with a proven ability to distill complex technical concepts for executive-level audiences.

• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively lead initiatives across multi-disciplinary teams.

• A commitment to continuous personal and team development within a collaborative, high-performance culture.

Perks and Benefits

• Competitive compensation

• Generous stock options

• Medical Insurance coverage

• Work with some of the brightest minds from Silicon Valley’s most dominant and successful companies