Data Scientist AI Research & Innovation

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

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Wellness and health benefits

Job summary

TransUnion seeks a senior data science leader to design AI-powered automation for enterprise workflows and to advance knowledge management and retrieval systems. You will work on neuro-symbolic AI, causal modeling, and explainable AI within a collaborative team.

You’ll prototype concepts, evaluate business impact, and help transition research into production while contributing to publications and patents. Hybrid work requires two days on-site.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a quantitative field with research in AI/ML.
• Experience building AI systems for enterprise use cases.
• Strong programming skills and modern AI frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop AI-powered automation solutions for enterprise workflows.
• Build retrieval systems and knowledge management capabilities.
• Advance neuro-symbolic AI and explainable AI initiatives.
• Prototype concepts and evaluate the business impact of AI technologies.
• Collaborate with engineering to deploy research to production.
• Publish findings and contribute to patents.
• Represent TransUnion through publications and patents.

Skills

Graph neural networks

Automated reasoning systems

Causal inference

Explainable AI

Python programming

Knowledge graphs

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science/AI/Data Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

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Team Overview

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 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. The team has access to Modern cloud-based computing environments and state-of-the-art AI infrastructure for experimentation and rapid prototyping. 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.

Role Overview And Core Responsibilities

• Design and develop AI-powered automation solutions for enterprise workflows and business processes.
• Design knowledge management, semantic search, and retrieval systems.
• Drive innovation in areas such as: neuro-symbolic AI, reasoning systems, knowledge-enhanced machine learning, agentic AI, causal AI, explainable AI, human-AI collaboration.
• Design, build, and evaluate proof-of-concepts that demonstrate the value of emerging AI technologies within TransUnion's products and services.
• 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.

Required Knowledge And Experiences

• 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 Classical AI, machine learning, knowledge representation via ontology, knowledge graphs
• Strong foundation in one or more of the following areas:
• 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

Preferred Skills

• Agentic Workflows
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Tool Calling
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Knowledge Graphs
• Vector Search
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Text Classification

Benefits That Support Every Part Of Your Life

At TransUnion, we design benefits to help you feel well, do well, and plan well—from day one.

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 Aff…

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 Overview

At TransUnion, we encourage and are committed to creating a real, positive impact and shared sense of purpose within our Workforce for Good, which empowers our people to grow, innovate and contribute to a better future for our communities and customers. We strive to build an environment where our associates are in the driver’s seat of their professional development— while having access to help along the way. We recognize that success comes when our associates thrive both professionally and personally; that’s why we prioritize work/life flexibility and offer resources for our teams across the globe to collaborate and drive excellence.

Be a part of our Workforce for Good – you’ll work with great people, pioneering products and cutting‑edge technology.

TransUnion's Internal Job Title

Advisor, Data Science and Analytics

Company

TransUnion LLC