AI Research & Innovation Lead

TransUnion; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision coverage

HSA/FSA options

Life and AD&D

Disability insurance

401(k) match

ESPP

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Commuter benefits

Volunteer time off

Job summary

TransUnion is seeking an experienced AI Research Advisor within the AI R&D organization. You will lead exploratory research, evaluate next‑gen AI capabilities, and collaborate with engineering to bring concepts to production.

The role offers a hybrid work model, access to large-scale data, and opportunities to publish or patent. Requires 8+ years in AI/ML and a PhD/masters in a quantitative field.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS, AI, ML, or related quantitative field.
• 8+ years of professional experience in AI, ML analytics or related fields.
• Strong foundation in Classical AI, knowledge graphs, causal AI, explainable AI.
• Advanced Python programming and AI development framework familiarity.
• Familiarity with consumer data, fraud, finance, risk analytics, identity, or marketing applications.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and advance next-generation AI capabilities for internal clients.
• Lead exploratory research in neuro-symbolic AI, causal AI, knowledge graphs and explainable AI.
• Publish, patent, present, and contribute to TransUnion's innovation strategy.
• Collaborate with engineering to transition research concepts into production-ready solutions.
• Represent TransUnion through publications and patents.

Skills

Python

AI Frameworks

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/AI/ML/Statistics

Job description

TransUnion's Job Applicant Privacy Notice Personal Information We Collect Your Privacy Choices Descripción general del equipo

This role reports directly to Senior Manager, Data Science & Analytics within the AI R&D organization. This team is responsible for evaluating, developing and advancing next-generation AI capabilities that can create strategic advantage for TransUnion and its customers by engaging with TransUnion’s internal clients across a broad array of credit, fraud, insurance and marketing business applications. You’ll join a team that encourages curiosity, innovation, and scientific exploration with access to access to large-scale consumer, marketing, fraud, and risk datasets for applied AI research and opportunities to shape the future direction of AI-powered products and solutions across TransUnion's businesses. This is a hybrid position and involves regular performance of job responsibilities virtually as well as in-person at an assigned TU office location for a minimum of two days a week.

Resumen del rol y responsabilidades clave

• Modern cloud-based computing environments and access to state-of-the-art AI infrastructure for experimentation and rapid prototyping.
• The freedom to investigate and evaluate emerging AI paradigms including neuro-symbolic systems, causal AI, knowledge graphs, autonomous agents, reasoning systems, and trustworthy AI.
• Opportunities to publish, patent, present, and contribute to TransUnion's long-term innovation strategy.
• Lead exploratory research initiatives focused on emerging AI techniques and their business applicability.
• Drive innovation in areas such as: neuro-symbolic AI, reasoning systems, knowledge-enhanced machine learning, agentic AI, causal AI, explainable AI, human-AI collaboration.
• Anticipate AI technology trends and assess their implications for TransUnion's products and services.
• Design, build, and evaluate proof-of-concepts and prototypes that demonstrate the value of emerging AI technologies.
• Create repeatable frameworks for assessing AI capabilities, limitations, risks, and business impact.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to transition successful research concepts into production-ready solutions.
• Represent TransUnion through publications and patents.

Conocimientos y experiencia requeridos

• Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cognitive Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Operations Research, or a closely related quantitative discipline
• 8+ years of professional experience in AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, or related quantitative fields
• Strong foundation in one or more of the following areas: Classical AI, knowledge representation via ontology, knowledge graphs and graph neural networks, automated reasoning systems, search and planning algorithms, causal inference and causal modeling, probabilistic graphical models, explainable and trustworthy AI
• Advanced programming skills in Python and familiarity with modern AI development frameworks
• Familiarity with consumer data, fraud detection, financial services, risk analytics, identity, or marketing applications

Benefits that support every part of your life:

• For Your Health: Enjoy day-one eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus supplemental plan options. Spousal, domestic partner, and other eligible dependent coverage is available on select plans. Choose tax‑advantaged HSA and FSA accounts to make everyday care more affordable.
• For Your Protection: We’ve got your back with company‑paid basic life and AD&D, optional voluntary life and AD&D for you and your family, and short‑and‑long‑term disability. You can also opt into a legal plan, pet insurance, and travel accident coverage.
• For Your Family: From adoption assistance and fertility planning coverage to caregiver support, we’re here for every chapter. Access Dependent Care FSA for possibility of an employer match, a complimentary Care@Work membership, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave with eligibility for a thoughtful, gradual return.
• For Your Future: Build toward what’s next with our 401(k) with employer match and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Tap financial wellness resources, career coaching, and optional long‑term care insurance to plan confidently.
• For You: Grow and recharge with tuition reimbursement, flexible time off for exempt employees or paid time off for nonexempt employees, up to 12 paid holidays per year, commuter benefits, employee discounts, charitable gift matching, and paid volunteer time off, plus corporate volunteer events that make it easy to give back.
• For Your Wellness: Access 24/7 support including professional therapy, coaching, and emotional well‑being programs alongside guided meditation and resources that support physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.

We are committed to being a place where diversity is not only present, it is embraced. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, TransUnion takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans in all levels of employment and develops annual affirmative action plans. Components of TransUnion’s Affirmative Action Program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are available for review to any associate or applicant for employment upon request by [e-mail]. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. Adherence to Company policies, sound judgment and trustworthiness, working safely, communicating respectfully, and safeguarding business operations, confidential and proprietary information, and the Company’s reputation are also essential expectations of this position.

Pay Scale Information: The U.S. base salary range for this position is $112,500.00 - $187,500 annually. *The salary range for this position reflects a reasonable estimate of the range of compensation for this job. At TransUnion, actual compensation is based on careful consideration of additional factors such as (but not limited to) an individual’s education, training, work experience, job-related skill set, location, and industry knowledge, as well as the scope and responsibilities of the position and market considerations. Regular, fulltime non-sales positions may be eligible to participate in TransUnion’s annual bonus plan. Certain positions may be also eligible for long-term incentives and other payments based on applicable company guidance and plan documents.

TransUnion's Internal Job Title: Advisor, Data Science and Analytics Company: TransUnion LLC

TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 12,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.