The Position :

Tekion seeks an exceptionally talented and seasoned Senior Staff 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 a 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 11 to 14 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 Valleys most dominant and successful companies