Advanced Data Science Associate Consultant - Generative AI and Machine Learning

ZS; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and well-being package

Financial planning assistance

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

A management consulting and technology firm in South San Francisco is seeking a skilled professional to develop and deploy advanced Generative AI models. The ideal candidate will possess a PhD or master's degree with relevant experience. Strong skills in Python and machine learning techniques are essential. This role requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and offers a flexible working environment. The firm prides itself on transforming ideas into impactful solutions for clients globally.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and deploying Generative AI applications.
• Demonstrated expertise in techniques such as fine-tuning and prompt engineering.
• Hands-on experience with advanced machine learning and AI model deployment.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy advanced machine learning and GenAI models.
• Lead research and implementation of novel GenAI techniques.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver AI solutions.

Skills

Generative AI applications

Machine learning

Python

Deep learning frameworks

Leadership

English fluency

Education

PhD in Computer Science or Statistics

Master's degree with 3-5 years experience

Tools

Python libraries (pandas, scikit-learn)

PyTorch

TensorFlow

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

Overview

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you’ll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and deploy advanced machine learning and GenAI models to solve key business problems.
• Architect and develop complex, stateful multi-agent systems and workflows using modern agentic frameworks like LangGraph.
• Develop and productionize sophisticated AI systems, including fine-tuning open-source LLMs, building advanced Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, experience in advanced prompt engineering development and designing multi-agent systems.
• Lead the research, experimentation, and implementation of novel GenAI techniques to solve complex business problems, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
• Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of data science projects, from initial conception and data analysis to model deployment and in-production monitoring.
• Apply classical machine learning techniques (e.g., predictive modeling, time-series analysis, classification) to analyze large-scale, complex datasets.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineers, product managers, and domain experts, to deliver integrated AI solutions.
• Ensure the operational viability of deployed models by implementing robust monitoring for performance and data drift.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to Associate team members.

What You’ll Bring

• A PhD Degree in Computer Science, Statistics, or a relevant field or a master’s degree with 3-5 years of relevant post-collegiate work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, building, and deploying Generative AI applications, with hands-on expertise in techniques such as fine-tuning, prompt engineering, Agentic systems, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and working with vector databases.
• Strong proficiency in Python and core data science libraries (e.g., pandas, scikit-learn).
• Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Prior leadership experience from a relevant position.
• Fluency in English.

Additional Skills

• Deep, hands-on experience building multi-agent systems with frameworks like LangChain, LangGraph, or similar Agent Development Kits (ADKs).
• Deep experience with GenAI frameworks like LangChain, LlamaIndex, Hugging Face ecosystem & familiarity to MCP tools.
• Experience with model quantization, inference optimization, and other techniques for the efficient deployment of large models.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and their AI/ML services.
• A strong track record of applying data science to solve complex, real-world problems.

Perks & Benefits

ZS offers a comprehensive total rewards package including health and well-being, financial planning, annual leave, personal growth and professional development. Our robust skills development programs, multiple career progression options and internal mobility paths and collaborative culture empowers you to thrive as an individual and global team member.

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Travel

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems—the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.

If you’re eager to grow, contribute, and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.

To complete your application:

Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment. An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.

NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.

Find Out More At:

www.zs.com