Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research & Development

TransUnion; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 194,000 - 353,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits from day one

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Job summary

TransUnion's Artificial Intelligence Research & Development team advances next-generation AI capabilities by blending classical AI methods with generative AI architectures to power scalable platforms and differentiated products.

The VP, Data Science and Analytics leads enterprise AI R&D, guides cross-functional teams, and drives responsible AI practices across hybrid work environments.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of AI leadership experience.
• PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or related field.
• Experience delivering AI-powered products in production environments.
• Executive-level communication with senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute enterprise AI R&D strategy.
• Lead production-grade agentic systems and cognitive architectures.
• Embed responsible AI principles across projects and platforms.
• Partner with product, engineering and business leaders to embed AI capabilities.

Education

PhD in AI/CS

Job description

Team Overview

TransUnion's Artificial Intelligence Research & Development team advances TransUnion’s next-generation AI capabilities by combining classical AI methods, including planning, reasoning, optimization, and knowledge representation, with generative AI architectures. The team translates emerging research into scalable platforms and differentiated products across TransUnion’s data, analytics, and customer solutions.

Role Overview and Core Responsibilities

This Vice President reports to the Senior Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research & Development and works closely with leaders across Data Science, Engineering, Product, Solutions, and Innovation. 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.

Define and execute the enterprise AI R&D strategy, integrating classical and generative AI into cohesive architectures that support differentiated business and customer outcomes. Lead the design and development of production-grade agentic systems, cognitive architectures, and planning-based AI frameworks for real-world decisioning. Advance hybrid AI systems that combine symbolic reasoning, statistical learning, large language models, and deterministic methods such as constraint satisfaction. Build, lead, and scale a high-performing organization of applied scientists, machine learning engineers, and research engineers. Translate research in automated planning, knowledge graphs, reinforcement learning, optimization, and LLM orchestration into production-ready platforms and reusable components. Partner with Product, Engineering, Solutions, and business leaders to identify high-value use cases and embed AI capabilities into customer-facing products. Establish practices for AI experimentation, evaluation, reproducibility, and benchmarking, including performance measures for hybrid AI systems. Develop reusable AI capabilities, including reasoning engines, orchestration layers, agent frameworks, and shared platform components. Build relationships with academia and industry to keep TransUnion connected to emerging AI research and talent. Embed responsible AI principles, including transparency, explainability, fairness, governance, and risk management, into autonomous and AI-enabled systems.

Required Knowledge and Experiences

15+ years of progressive experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or related technical fields, including leadership of large-scale AI R&D organizations and delivery of measurable business impact. Demonstrated experience building and deploying AI-powered products that combine generative AI and classical AI techniques in production environments. Deep knowledge of hybrid AI system design and the trade-offs among symbolic, deterministic, probabilistic, and learning-based approaches. Executive-level communication and cross-functional leadership experience, with the ability to influence senior leaders and guide complex AI systems from research through commercialization. PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or a related discipline with emphasis in classical AI, such as planning, search, logic, or knowledge representation, or equivalent advanced expertise gained through relevant research and industry experience.

Required Technical Skills

Generative AI and LLM (Large Language Model) architectures, including agent orchestration and production deployment patterns. Classical AI methods, including automated planning and scheduling, search, logic, constraint satisfaction, and knowledge representation. Knowledge graphs, symbolic reasoning, and cognitive or agentic system architectures. Reinforcement learning, mathematical optimization, statistical learning, and ML (Machine Learning) evaluation methods. AI platform and engineering practices supporting scalable, reproducible, explainable, and governed production systems.

Preferred Skills

• Experience creating reusable enterprise AI platforms, reasoning engines, orchestration layers, or agent frameworks.
• Track record of converting advanced research into scalable, revenue-generating products or customer solutions.
• Experience establishing external research partnerships with universities, laboratories, or industry consortia.
• Familiarity with highly regulated data, analytics, financial services, credit, identity, fraud, or information-services environments.
• Experience leading globally distributed technical teams and operating effectively at both strategic and hands‑on levels.

Benefits

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 and 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.

Equality Statement

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 Section503 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 Affiliation Program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are available for review to any associate or applicant for employment upon request by contacting [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.

Pay Scale Information

The U.S. base salary range for this position is $193,500.00 - $353,250.00 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.

Application Notes

The job title: VP, Data Science and Analytics.

Company: TransUnion LLC.