Research & Development (AI) Lead

sïParadigm Diagnostic Informatics; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 4,000,000 - 8,000,000; Full time

Job summary

sïParadigm Diagnostic Informatics in Islamabad seeks a PhD-level R&D Lead to define and drive an applied AI/ML research agenda, turning concepts into production-ready healthcare products in collaboration with engineering teams.

This hands-on leadership role blends scientific rigor with practical delivery, mentoring researchers, prototyping quickly, and ensuring data privacy and compliance. You will help shape the roadmap and represent the company’s technical leadership through papers and talks.

Qualifications

• PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Data Science, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of post-degree experience.
• Demonstrated research excellence (publications, patents, or strong applied-research portfolio).
• Deep hands-on expertise with ML/DL frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Proven ability to translate research into production-grade systems.
• Strong programming skills (Python) and familiarity with MLOps and cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the R&D roadmap aligning research with product goals.
• Lead applied research across ML, NLP/LLMs, and computer vision in healthcare context.
• Prototype, validate, and benchmark new approaches for production use.
• Collaborate with backend, frontend, AI, and Python developers to integrate outputs into scalable products.
• Mentor developers and junior researchers, fostering experimentation and rigor.
• Represent the company’s technical leadership via papers, patents, talks when appropriate.
• Ensure research/data practices comply with healthcare privacy and regulations.

Skills

Python programming

ML/DL frameworks

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

PhD in AI/ML/CS/Data Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Job description

Role Summary

We are seeking a PhD-level R&D Lead to define and drive our applied-research agenda in AI and machine learning. This person will lead research initiatives from concept to prototype to production, working hand-in-hand with our engineering teams to translate cutting-edge methods into real diagnostic and healthcare products. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends scientific rigor with practical delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the R&D roadmap, aligning research priorities with the company's product and business goals.
• Lead applied research across machine learning, deep learning, NLP/LLMs, and computer vision, with a focus on healthcare and diagnostic applications.
• Rapidly prototype, validate, and benchmark new approaches, and guide promising work into production alongside engineering teams.
• Collaborate closely with backend, frontend, AI, and Python developers to integrate research outputs into scalable products.
• Mentor and technically guide developers and junior researchers, fostering a culture of experimentation and scientific rigor.
• Stay ahead of academic and industry developments, and represent the company's technical thought leadership (papers, patents, talks where appropriate).
• Ensure research and data practices respect relevant healthcare data privacy and compliance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of post-degree experience.
• Demonstrated research excellence (publications, patents, or a strong applied-research portfolio).
• Deep, hands-on expertise with modern ML/DL frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and core techniques across deep learning, NLP/LLMs, and/or computer vision.
• Proven ability to translate research into working, production-grade systems.
• Strong programming skills (Python) and familiarity with MLOps, big-data pipelines, and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead and collaborate across technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research or applied experience in healthcare AI, biomedical informatics, computational genomics, or medical imaging.
• Familiarity with healthcare data standards and constraints (e.g., EHR, HL7/FHIR, HIPAA / data privacy).
• Prior experience leading or mentoring a research or technical team.