Senior AI/ML Scientist

Vanguard; Scottsdale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Vanguard seeks a Senior AI/ML/Data Scientist to lead applied AI initiatives, turning complex business challenges into scalable, production-ready solutions across risk, fraud protection, and client experiences.

You will collaborate with product, risk, operations, and tech teams to embed AI into enterprise workflows, ensuring practical, trusted, and adopted outcomes in a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Experience designing AI agents that reason, plan and act across systems.
• Hands-on experience building enterprise LLM applications (RAG, tool use, orchestration, evaluation).
• Strong NLP experience with unstructured text and language-driven workflows.
• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or related field.
• 3+ years delivering AI/ML solutions in production environments.
• 5+ years of hands-on Python experience; distributed data processing is a plus.
• Ability to solve business problems using AI, not just build models.
• Excellent communication to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in cross-functional, enterprise environments.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business stakeholders to identify high‑value problems suitable for Agentic AI, LLMs, and NLP.
• Translate business needs into AI use cases, success metrics, and delivery plans.
• Focus on business outcomes beyond model performance.
• Architect and develop agentic AI systems that can reason, plan, and act across tools and data sources.
• Design multi‑agent and tool‑augmented LLM solutions to automate complex processes.
• Ensure solutions are reliable, explainable, and governable for enterprise use.
• Collaborate with engineering to deploy scalable, secure AI with good performance.
• Implement monitoring, guardrails for bias, drift, and failure modes.
• Align AI work with risk management, compliance and responsible AI standards.
• Act as a trusted AI advisor and share best practices and patterns.
• Mentor peers on applied AI and business-driven problem solving.

Skills

Agentic AI

LLMs

NLP

Python

Distributed data processing

Education

MS/PhD in CS/ML/DS or related field

Tools

RAG

Job description

We are seeking a Senior AI/ML/Data Scientist / Applied AI Leader with deep expertise in Agentic AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to solve high impact business problems using advanced AI capabilities. This role is not focused on experimentation alone. You will lead the transformation of complex, ambiguous business challenges into scalable, production ready AI solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes, including improved efficiency, reduced risk, stronger fraud and cyber security protection, better decision making, and enhanced client experiences. You will work closely with product, risk, operations, and technology partners to embed AI directly into enterprise workflows, ensuring solutions are practical, trusted, and adopted.

Responsibilities

Solve Business Problems with AI

• Partner with business stakeholders to identify, frame, and prioritize high‑value problems that can be addressed using Agentic AI, LLMs, and NLP.
• Translate business needs into clear AI use cases, success metrics, and delivery plans.
• Focus on business outcomes, not just model performance.

Design & Build Agentic AI Solutions

• Architect and develop agentic AI systems that can reason, plan, and take actions across tools, workflows, and data sources.
• Design multi‑agent and tool‑augmented LLM solutions to automate complex, multi‑step processes.
• Ensure solutions are reliable, explainable, and governed for enterprise use.

Scalable & Responsible AI

• Collaborate with engineering teams to deploy AI solutions with scalability, security, and performance in mind.
• Implement evaluation, monitoring, and guardrails for LLM and agentic systems, including bias, drift, and failure modes.
• Align solutions with enterprise risk management, compliance, and responsible AI standards.

Thought Leadership & Collaboration

• Act as a trusted AI advisor, helping teams understand where Agentic AI and LLMs add value—and where they do not.
• Contribute to AI best practices, reusable patterns, and strategic direction.
• Mentor peers and teammates on applied AI and business‑driven problem solving.

Qualifications

• Agentic AI: Experience designing AI agents that reason, plan, and act across systems.
• Large Language Models (LLMs): Hands‑on experience building enterprise LLM applications (e.g., RAG, tool use, orchestration, evaluation).
• Natural Language Processing (NLP): Strong experience working with unstructured text and language‑driven workflows.
• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 3+ years delivering AI/ML solutions in production environments.
• 5+ years of hands‑on Python experience; experience with distributed data processing is a plus.
• Strong ability to solve business problems using AI, not just build models.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Experience working in cross‑functional, enterprise environments.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.