Lead AI Research Scientist - NLP Focus

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Stock options

Professional development budget

Home office setup allowance

Flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead AI Research Scientist (NLP) to guide a team of researchers and engineers in developing state-of-the-art NLP models. You will drive research in text generation, sentiment analysis, and knowledge graphs, with a focus on responsible AI and scalable deployment.

The role is remote-first with global reach, based remotely but focusing on Johannesburg, South Africa. You will mentor talent, publish findings, and shape the research roadmap for next-generation AI solutions.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent research experience focused on NLP.
• 10+ years of relevant research experience, with leadership experience.
• Proven track record with publications and patents.
• Strong understanding of ML theory, NLP, and distributed computing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of AI researchers and engineers in NLP.
• Design and implement novel ML algorithms for NLP tasks.
• Research and publish findings in top AI conferences and journals.
• Collaborate with product teams to translate research into features.

Skills

NLP expertise

Deep learning

Leadership experience

PyTorch

Transformers

Hugging Face

Education

PhD in CS/AI

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Hugging Face Transformers

spaCy

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a visionary technology firm at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, seeking a highly accomplished Lead AI Research Scientist specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP). This is a fully remote, permanent position offering the chance to shape the direction of groundbreaking AI research and development. You will lead a talented team of scientists and engineers in exploring novel algorithms, developing state-of-the-art NLP models, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in areas such as text generation, sentiment analysis, machine translation, and conversational AI. As a remote-first organization, we prioritize seamless collaboration and communication through advanced virtual tools, ensuring that distance is no barrier to innovation. The ideal candidate will possess a deep theoretical understanding of machine learning and NLP, coupled with practical experience in implementing and deploying complex AI systems. This role is crucial for developing next-generation AI solutions that will redefine industries. You will be instrumental in fostering a culture of curiosity, rigor, and continuous learning within the research team, driving impactful discoveries and translating them into tangible products. This position is based remotely, with a primary focus on the vibrant tech ecosystem within **Johannesburg, Gauteng, ZA**, though your work will have global reach. We are looking for a leader who can inspire, mentor, and guide their team towards achieving ambitious research objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of AI researchers and engineers focused on Natural Language Processing.


• Design, develop, and implement novel machine learning algorithms and models for advanced NLP tasks.


• Conduct cutting-edge research in areas such as deep learning for NLP, transformer models, large language models (LLMs), and knowledge graphs.


• Oversee the entire research lifecycle, from ideation and experimentation to prototyping and validation.


• Collaborate with product teams to translate research breakthroughs into practical AI-powered features and services.


• Publish research findings in top-tier AI conferences and journals.


• Stay current with the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and NLP through continuous learning and engagement with the research community.


• Define research roadmaps and strategic objectives for the NLP team.


• Contribute to the development of intellectual property and patents.


• Ensure the ethical development and deployment of AI technologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent research experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field with a strong focus on NLP.


• 10+ years of relevant research experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or team management role.


• Demonstrated expertise in deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) and NLP libraries (e.g., Hugging Face Transformers, spaCy).


• Proven track record of impactful research contributions, evidenced by publications and patents.


• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, probability, and linear algebra.


• Experience with large-scale data processing and distributed computing.


• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.


• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.


• Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment is highly desirable.


• Strong leadership qualities and a passion for mentoring talent.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of ZAR.


• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.


• Significant stock options and performance-based bonuses.


• Generous professional development budget for conferences, courses, and publications.


• Home office setup allowance and ongoing tech support.


• Flexible working hours and unlimited PTO.


• Access to state-of-the‑art research infrastructure and datasets.


• Opportunities for rapid career advancement in a high‑growth industry.


• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating remote work environment.


• Opportunity to work on truly transformative AI technologies.