AI Research Scientist - Reinforcement Learning

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Remote work flexibility

Conference travel funding

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an AI Research Scientist specialized in Reinforcement Learning to work remotely on cutting-edge RL research. You will develop new algorithms and experiments, publish findings, and collaborate with a world-class team to push the boundaries of autonomous learning.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s with a strong RL focus, proficiency in Python and DL libraries, and experience with RL environments.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Computer Science, AI, ML or related field with a strong RL focus.
• Proven RL research track record with top conference publications (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR).
• Strong Python programming skills and experience with DL libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Deep theoretical RL knowledge: value-based methods, policy gradients, model-based RL.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge RL research, including deep RL and related areas.
• Develop novel RL algorithms and frameworks for complex decision problems.
• Implement and evaluate RL algorithms using DL frameworks.
• Design simulations or real-world experiments to test RL agents.
• Analyze results, identify limitations, propose improvements.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers on joint projects.
• Publish findings in leading AI conferences and journals.
• Stay updated with RL and ML literature.
• Contribute to internal AI tools and platforms.
• Present progress to internal and external audiences.

Skills

Reinforcement Learning

Python

Deep Learning

Research Publications

Experimentation

Communication

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/AI/ML with RL focus

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Stable Baselines

RLlib

OpenAI Gym

MuJoCo

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized leader in artificial intelligence research, is seeking a brilliant AI Research Scientist specializing in Reinforcement Learning (RL). This role is fully remote, allowing you to contribute to groundbreaking research from anywhere. You will push the boundaries of RL, developing novel algorithms and applications in complex, dynamic environments. This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to work on challenging problems, collaborate with world-class researchers, and publish your findings in top-tier venues. The ideal candidate will have a deep theoretical understanding of RL, combined with practical experience in implementing and experimenting with RL agents. Your work will contribute to the development of intelligent systems that can learn and adapt autonomously.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research in reinforcement learning, deep RL, and related areas.
• Develop novel RL algorithms and frameworks for solving complex decision-making problems.
• Implement and evaluate RL algorithms using state-of-the-art deep learning frameworks.
• Design and conduct simulations or real-world experiments to test RL agents.
• Analyze experimental results, identify limitations, and propose improvements.
• Collaborate with other researchers and engineers on joint projects.
• Publish research findings in leading AI conferences and journals.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in RL and machine learning literature.
• Contribute to the development of internal AI tools and platforms.
• Present research progress and findings to internal and external audiences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field, with a strong focus on Reinforcement Learning.
• Proven track record of impactful research in RL, demonstrated through publications in top-tier conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR).
• Strong programming skills in Python and experience with deep learning libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Deep theoretical understanding of RL concepts, including value-based methods, policy gradients, and model-based RL.
• Experience with RL libraries and frameworks (e.g., Stable Baselines, RLlib) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate complex research ideas clearly.
• Ability to work independently and proactively in a remote research setting.
• Experience with simulation environments (e.g., OpenAI Gym, MuJoCo) is a plus.
• This is a fully remote position.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, commensurate with your experience and research contributions, along with a comprehensive benefits package. This includes excellent health, dental, and vision coverage, a robust retirement savings plan, and generous paid time off. We provide significant support for professional development, including funding for conference travel and opportunities for continuous learning. As a fully remote role, you will enjoy exceptional flexibility and work-life balance. You'll be joining a world-class research team, tackling some of the most exciting challenges in artificial intelligence.