Senior AI Data Scientist

Scion Staffing has been engaged to conduct a search for a Senior AI Data Scientist for an innovative, rapidly growing technology company developing AI-powered products that help organizations turn complex information into practical business insights. This is a direct hire, remote position in New York, NY, with up to 25% annual travel including an annual international offsite company meeting requiring a valid passport.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Senior AI Data Scientist will build and productionize machine learning and AI capabilities that transform large, complex datasets into scalable products used by real customers. The first 90 days will focus on model evaluation, routing, offline benchmarking, and production fine-tuning, followed by custom predictive and machine learning models as additional data becomes available. This hands-on individual contributor will collaborate across data science, engineering, product, and business operations in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment.

PERKS:

• Competitive base compensation and a benefits package, with starter equity package valued by the employer at over $70,000 following the first three months of employment.
• Remote work aligned with Eastern Time.
• Meaningful ownership of production AI and machine learning products used by real customers.
• Opportunities to expand your responsibilities based on demonstrated impact and participate in company gatherings and international offsites.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Evaluate and productionize AI and machine learning systems, initially focusing on model evaluation, routing approaches, offline benchmarking, and production fine-tuning.
• Own ML and AI products from inception through production, ensuring they are scalable, maintainable, and valuable to real users.
• Build scalable data and machine learning pipelines using Python and SQL to transform large, complex datasets into structured, modeling-ready information.
• Develop predictive and custom machine learning models using statistical, causal inference, Bayesian, and other practical algorithmic approaches.
• Build AI capabilities using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector databases, embedding models, large language models, and agent orchestration.
• Design and interpret A/B tests, offline evaluations, and ML benchmarks while clearly communicating hypotheses, technical decisions, results, and tradeoffs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 5 years of experience in data science, applied machine learning, or quantitative research, or at least 3 years of relevant experience with a PhD.
• Bachelor’s degree required in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Machine Learning, Economics, Physics, or another highly quantitative field.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL, including experience building scalable data and ML pipelines and working with large, complex datasets.
• Demonstrated experience taking an ML or AI product from initial concept through production, with real users relying on the resulting system.
• Hands-on experience with model evaluation, routing, production fine-tuning, A/B testing, offline evaluations, and ML benchmarking.
• Experience with RAG, vector databases, embeddings, LLMs, and agent orchestration, along with knowledge of statistics, causal inference, predictive modeling, and Bayesian techniques.
• Ability to explain technical decisions clearly, and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The salary range is up to $220k/yr + equity and their full benefit offerings that include 100% employer paid options (medical, dental & vision) for employee and their dependents, FSA / HSA options, 401(k) - with a 100% company match on the first 6% contributed, and paid PTO / sick / holiday. Following the first three months of employment, employees receive a starter equity package the employer values over $70,000. Additional base salary or equity growth may be available over time based on individual impact and business needs; future adjustments are not guaranteed.