Lead Applied Scientist

Responsibilities

• Architect and execute the strategic vision for applied AI and Machine Learning to align with business objectives.
• Steer the R&D roadmap by identifying emergent technological opportunities and implementing novel solutions.
• Serve as the principal technical liaison between the R&D organization and executive stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional collaborations with product and engineering teams to integrate ML systems into core products.
• Mentor applied scientists and cultivate a culture of scientific rigor and innovation.
• Establish frameworks for model evaluation and quantify the business impact of AI initiatives.
• Govern best practices for the machine learning lifecycle, including deployment, monitoring, and ethical AI.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.S. in a quantitative discipline such as Computer Science, Statistics, or Physics.
• 7-9 years of post-academic experience in applied science or quantitative research roles.
• Deep expertise in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Causal Inference, and Explainable AI.
• Expert-level proficiency with frameworks such as TensorFlow, Keras, or PyTorch.
• Extensive experience with Large Language Models (LLMs), including fine-tuning and prompt engineering.
• Advanced programming skills in Python and mastery of SQL.
• Proficiency with cloud computing platforms (GCP, Azure, or AWS).
• Proven track record of translating complex models into tangible business value.

Preferred Qualifications

• Domain expertise in the automotive industry, finance, or enterprise SaaS.
• Experience with specialized areas such as Recommendation Engines or advanced NLP.
• Familiarity with distributed computing frameworks like Spark.
• Experience with Computer Vision methodologies (e.g., OpenCV).

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Generous stock options
• Medical Insurance coverage
• Opportunity to work with top talent from Silicon Valley's most successful companies

About the Company

Tekion is disrupting the automotive industry with the first cloud-native automotive platform. Our ecosystem connects OEMs, retailers, and consumers through a seamless platform powered by big data, machine learning, and AI. With nearly 3,000 employees across North America, Asia, and Europe, Tekion is enabling the best automotive retail experiences ever through cutting-edge technology.