Data Scientist

UCLA Health; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Health seeks a data scientist to lead AI/ML initiatives across the health system, advancing MLOps/LLMOps and responsible AI practices. You will interpret model results for stakeholders and drive cross‑department collaboration in an agile setting, deploying advanced AI techniques including LLMs and generative AI.

Ideal candidates have hands-on experience with LLMs, governance, and healthcare data challenges, with strong communication skills and the ability to mentor teams in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of advanced analytics including neural networks, NLP, and DL frameworks.
• Expertise with LLMs and generative AI for predictive analytics.
• Experience with Azure or similar cloud platforms and analytics tools like Databricks.
• Proficiency in Python or R; notebooks and data exploration tools.
• Strong programming skills: Python, SQL, Java, shell scripting, and data engineering basics.
• Experience documenting workflows for MLOps and transparency.
• Experience with data visualization tools like Tableau/Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI/ML initiatives: develop, evaluate, and validate models across clinical, operational, and financial domains.
• Enhance MLOps, LLMOps, and responsible AI governance.
• Conduct bias and fairness testing for models.
• Deliver actionable insights by interpreting model outputs for stakeholders.
• Foster collaboration across departments in agile environments.
• Leverage large language models, generative AI, and agentic AI frameworks.
• Identify AI/ML opportunities and guide project scoping with teams.

Skills

LLMs & Generative AI

MLOps & LLMOps

Python

SQL

Data visualization

Healthcare data

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master's degree in CS/Stats/Engineering

PhD preferred

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Databricks

Azure

Jupyter

Tableau/Power BI

Job description

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Transform Healthcare with Cutting-Edge AI and ML Technologies

Are you passionate about transforming healthcare through cutting-edge AI and ML technologies? We are seeking a highly skilled Data Scientist to drive innovative initiatives and improve healthcare outcomes. This role offers an exciting opportunity to apply your expertise in AI/ML, enhance our MLOps and LLMOps frameworks, and contribute to the responsible use of AI across our health system.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead AI/ML initiatives: develop, evaluate, and validate models that support clinical, operational, and financial processes across the system, leading projects end to end.
• Enhance MLOps, LLMOps & responsible AI governance: apply and advance our operations paradigms and uphold AI governance framework.
• Bias & fairness testing: conduct rigorous statistical bias and fairness evaluation strategies for models.
• Deliver actionable insights: interpret model outputs and communicate insights to stakeholders.
• Drive collaboration & innovation: foster a culture of collaboration across departments and operate effectively in agile teams.
• Leverage advanced AI/ML techniques: utilize large language models, generative AI, and agentic AI frameworks.
• Identify AI/ML solutions for stakeholder needs: collaborate with teams to identify opportunities and guide project scoping.

Seeking a candidate with:

• Extensive hands‑on experience with large language models and generative AI techniques.
• Strong understanding of MLOps, LLMOps, responsible AI governance, and bias/fairness testing methodologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading data science projects with structured work plans and clear milestones.
• Deep knowledge of healthcare systems and understanding of clinical, financial, and operational challenges.
• Ability to work in an innovation‑driven, agile environment, continuously learning and applying the latest AI/ML technologies with strong statistical and experimental foundations.

Additional Information:

• Epic Certification: Selected candidates will be required to complete Epic certifications within 6 months of hire if not currently certified.
• Application Instructions: Please upload your cover letter and resume into a single PDF file.
• Selection Timeline: We will be reviewing applications through August 2026.

Job Qualifications

Technical Skills:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or related field is required; PhD preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in advanced analytics, statistical modeling, neural networks, deep learning, NLP, supervised and unsupervised learning, and frameworks such as TensorFlow, Keras, and scikit‑learn.
• Expertise in leveraging advanced AI techniques, including LLMs and generative AI, for predictive analytics and content extraction.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure or similar cloud technologies and analytics platforms such as Databricks.
• Proficiency in Python or R; experience with Jupyter Notebooks, Databricks, or iPython notebooks.
• Strong programming skills in shell scripting, Python, Perl, C++, SQL, and Java.
• Proficiency in documenting workflows, methodologies, and assumptions to support MLOps practices and ensure transparency.
• Experience with data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, matplotlib, or ggplot2.
• Experience performing statistical analysis for bias and fairness testing.

Data Management:

• Experience with healthcare and/or EHR data is preferred.
• Strong metadata management skills with ability to synthesize large datasets.
• Experience synthesizing data to produce actionable recommendations and optimize objectives.

Organizational and Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, explaining complex quantitative models to stakeholders.
• Proven problem‑solving skills, identifying root causes and delivering data‑driven outcomes.
• Exceptional collaboration, active listening, rapport building, consensus building, and effective delegation.
• Experience organizing work, generating task lists, balancing multiple projects, and reporting progress.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills for a fast‑paced environment.

Leadership and Team Skills:

• Ability to transfer knowledge and mentor team members.
• Strong staff development, leadership, and coaching skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, lead discussions, and present findings.
• Ability to identify, document, and resolve issues with an organized log.
• High-functioning team skills balancing multiple tasks efficiently.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.