Principal Data Scientist

Principal Data Scientist – Generative AI & Advanced Analytics

A leading global information, analytics, and technology organization is seeking an experienced Principal Data Scientist to provide technical leadership across advanced AI and machine learning initiatives.

This role is suited to a senior data science professional with deep expertise in Generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, semantic search, knowledge graphs, and agentic AI systems . The successful candidate will lead complex analytical projects, establish technical standards, mentor other data scientists, and help translate advanced AI capabilities into scalable, production-ready solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex data science and AI projects from development through production implementation.
• Act as a technical leader for analytical projects and communicate results to senior stakeholders.
• Lead code reviews and serve as a final technical approver for models and AI solutions before customer deployment.
• Establish and evaluate new frameworks, methodologies, development standards, and governance practices.
• Set a high technical standard for model development, experimentation, evaluation, and production deployment.
• Lead and mentor small- to medium-sized teams, both directly and through cross-functional influence.
• Provide technical guidance and act as a subject matter expert across advanced AI and data science initiatives.
• Develop and optimize large language model (LLM) solutions, including prompting, fine-tuning, and model adaptation.
• Design and implement advanced retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, including hybrid search and ranking optimization.
• Develop embedding strategies and semantic search systems.
• Integrate knowledge graphs into AI and machine learning solutions to enhance intelligence and discovery.
• Design and support agentic AI architectures , including multi-step reasoning, autonomous agent orchestration, and long-running agent systems with feedback loops.
• Develop robust evaluation frameworks incorporating offline metrics and human-in-the-loop evaluation.
• Optimize AI systems for cost, performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Implement AI observability and monitoring capabilities for production systems.
• Ensure AI solutions meet data governance, security, compliance, and responsible-use requirements.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders and customers to understand requirements and deliver effective solutions.
• Mentor and develop colleagues while promoting strong data science and engineering practices.

Technical Expertise

Strong experience in several of the following areas:

• Generative AI
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Hybrid search and ranking optimization
• Embeddings and semantic search
• Knowledge graphs and graph-enhanced AI
• Agentic AI and autonomous agent orchestration
• AI evaluation and model performance measurement
• Human-in-the-loop systems
• AI observability and production monitoring
• Cost and performance optimization
• Data governance and compliance-aware AI systems

What You Bring

• Significant professional experience in data science, machine learning, or applied AI .
• Demonstrated experience leading complex data science or AI projects.
• Strong technical expertise across modern Generative AI and machine learning technologies.
• Experience working with LLMs, RAG architectures, semantic search, and AI-driven information retrieval.
• Experience leading or influencing technical teams and setting development standards.
• Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop other data scientists and technical professionals.
• Experience managing projects involving customers or senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to senior audiences.
• Strong collaborative approach and the ability to work across technical and business functions.

Leadership & Impact

The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership and communication skills. This position offers the opportunity to influence AI strategy, establish technical standards, mentor teams, and contribute to the development of advanced AI products and services at scale.

Industry: Information & Analytics / Legal Technology / AI & Machine Learning

Compensation: $118,300-$219,800 base salary + annual incentive eligibility