Principal Scientist, Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models (2-year LTE*)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 261,000 - 406,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Scientist to lead AI initiatives aimed at improving global health. This role involves collaborating with top researchers and policymakers to adapt cutting-edge AI and language models for underserved populations. You will leverage your expertise to identify knowledge gaps, propose innovative solutions, and engage with academic and industry partners. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the field of public health and contribute to meaningful change on a global scale. If you are passionate about using technology for good, this position offers a chance to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical coverage

Generous paid time off

Paid family leave

Retirement contributions

Employee communities engagement

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in AI and LLM with a PhD in a relevant field.
• Expertise in industry applications and a track record of publications.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic AI initiatives and collaborate with global health policymakers.
• Prototype innovative solutions and communicate methods to diverse audiences.

Skills

Artificial Intelligence

Large Language Models

Machine Learning

Natural Language Processing

Python

Deep Learning

Data Analysis

Problem Solving

Education

PhD in Applied Mathematics

PhD in Machine Learning

PhD in Computational Linguistics

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

JAX

Job description

Principal Scientist, Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models (2-year LTE*)

Apply locations Seattle, WA time type Full time posted on Posted 8 Days Ago job requisition id B020586

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

As part of the Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Institute for Disease Modeling’s (IDM) mission is to support global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health by developing, using, and sharing computational modeling tools and promoting quantitative decision-making. The IDM team is composed of research scientists and software developers who develop and prototype computational tools to advise on global health and development policy and identify and address critical knowledge gaps. IDM is a multifaceted organization with a work environment defined by innovation and teamwork. As part of our work, we routinely collaborate with groups at the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, the Centers for Disease Control, PATH, ministries of health, as well as universities and research institutes across the globe.

Your Role

Joining the Gates Foundation provides unique opportunities to work with global-health policymakers, to collaborate with world-class researchers and non-profit organizations, and to help to save and improve the lives of people around the world. We are committed to enabling and accelerating the robust use of artificial intelligence and language models for positive and lasting change in global health and development. In the next years, we will be funding, guiding, and informing the deployment of these new technologies in high need areas to achieve lasting impact, doing it with care and celerity, and working with and learning from local perspectives.

We seek a Principal Scientist with exceptional experience in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM) to join our team and work on adapting and translating advances in artificial intelligence and large language models into impact for underserved and vulnerable populations.

You will envision, plan, and implement on strategic AI initiatives at the foundation. You will be collaborating with topic experts, field partners, and in-country policy makers so they can build the right solutions to their most important problems. You will bring to bear your field knowledge for cross-cutting impact: advising colleagues on their LLM projects, evaluating project proposals, informing investments, presenting on advances and tools in the field, and collaborating with a diverse set of colleagues at IDM and across the Foundation to go rapidly from idea to prototype that can be tested and iterated upon. You will approach difficult problems with optimism, creativity, expertise, and a willingness to lead and learn. Moreover, you will accelerate and magnify the impact of AI strategic efforts by building relationships and engaging with academic groups and industry partners; helping to convene expert groups as needed to quickly identify the best solutions and approaches to strategic initiatives and investments.

*This is a 24-month limited-term position based in Seattle, WA. Relocation will be provided.

What You’ll Do

• Develop strategic AI initiatives at the foundation
• Identify knowledge or data gaps in settings in which we work and propose solutions.
• Envision innovative framings of problems to simplify work and cut to essential issues.
• Prototype innovative solutions to demonstrate what is possible in the rapidly evolving AI field
• Provide subject matter expertise, strategic counsel, and operational insights to the AI and LLM efforts across the foundation
• Establish trusted relationships with internal and external entities, such as academic institutions and industry partners
• Collaborate with topic experts, field partners, and in-country policy makers to build the right solutions to the most important problems.
• Clearly communicate sophisticated methods to diverse audiences

Your Experience

• PhD in applied mathematics, machine learning, natural language processing, or computational linguistics, with 10 years of professional experience.
• Recognized as an expert within and outside of the organization in the field of artificial intelligence.
• Demonstrable ties to industry applications, including technology startups, established affiliate positions within corporation such as Microsoft Research, Nvidia, Amazon, or Google
• Track record of scientific, peer-reviewed publications including publications in a top-tier ML/NLP conference (e.g., ACL, NAACL, EMNLP, NeurIPS, ICML), and/or patented inventions
• Ability to think of projects at the multi-year scale, while also engaging with rapidly moving projects and flexible explorations
• Proficiency in writing code for DL/ML/AI applications, i.e., Python, PyTorch, Tensorflow, Java, JAX, etc.
• Experience prototyping innovative solutions that demonstrate what is possible to accomplish with AI
• Experience building, training, and adapting LLMs for customized applications applying on-premise and cloud-based hosting platforms.
• Experience with the open-source AI community for deep learning and large language models is a plus
• Ability to be adaptable to changing technologies, to working on a diverse set of use cases, to working with different types of partners, and in different settings.
• Knowledge of disease control and public health issues in low-income countries is a plus.

** Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $261,700 to $405,700 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $285,600 to $442,100 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.

We are a nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. For over 20 years, the Gates Foundation has been committed to tackling the greatest inequities in our world. We can’t achieve our goals on our own. We work together with businesses, government, and nonprofits, and each partner plays a specific role in accelerating progress. Read more About Us.

Our values

At the Gates Foundation, we have bold aspirations and five core values that guide our actions: Optimism, Collaboration, Rigor, Innovation, and Inclusion. Learn more.

Put your talents to use in a fast-paced, stimulating organization where you can make an outsized impact. Year over year, our employees report they are proud to work here and are willing to go above and beyond in service of our mission to reduce inequities. Learn more about the employee experience.

As an organization, we offer various work arrangements, generous PTO, full healthcare premiums coverage, contribution to your retirement fund as well as other financial, wellness, and family benefits. Discover more.