AI/ML Capability Engineering Lead — NLP & Agentic AI

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking an AI/ML Capability Engineering Team Lead to oversee a cross-functional team of AI/ML engineers and data scientists. You will drive NLP and agentic AI initiatives across the R&D stack, partnering with product teams and stakeholders to design, build, and refine scalable AI solutions.

You will supervise, mentor, and recruit talent, while ensuring responsible AI practices, data privacy compliance, and alignment with regulatory expectations.

Qualifications

• PhD/MS/BS with required years of AI/ML leadership experience.
• 5 years of technical leadership in AI/ML, NLP or Agentic AI projects.
• 2 years of supervision experience.
• Strong communication, planning and leadership abilities.
• Experience with AI governance, data privacy and ethics topics.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional AI/ML engineers and data scientists.
• Supervise, mentor, and recruit team members.
• Partner with stakeholders to ideate, design, and improve solutions.
• Evaluate and optimize AI/ML workflows; push responsible AI.
• Present plans and results to science and IT leadership.

Skills

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Natural Language Processing

Python

Git

SDLC

Solution Architecture

System Design

Testing

LangGraph

Orchestrate

Data Engineering

Apache Airflow

Apache Spark

AI Governance

Regulatory Awareness

Education

PhD in data science/AI/ML/related field

MS in data science/AI/ML/related field

BS in data science/CS/related field

Tools

Apache Airflow

Apache Spark

IBM watsonx.governance

LangGraph

Docker

Pytorch

vLLM

Job description

Merck is seeking an AI/ML Capability Engineering Team Lead to oversee a cross-functional team of AI/ML engineers and data scientists. You will drive NLP and agentic AI initiatives across the R&D stack, partnering with product teams and stakeholders to design, build, and refine scalable AI solutions.

You will supervise, mentor, and recruit talent, while ensuring responsible AI practices, data privacy compliance, and alignment with regulatory expectations.