Principal AI Researcher (NLP Focus)

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 2,501,000 - 3,168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Research funding for cloud compute &数据

Conference attendance & publication 支持

Stock options

Flexible remote schedule

Relocation assistance (remote)

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal AI Researcher specializing in NLP to join a world-class remote research team. The role demands a PhD and a proven publication record, with responsibility for advancing NLP models and algorithms from concept to impactful applications.

You will collaborate with globally distributed researchers, shape the AI roadmap, and mentor junior scientists while contributing to high-impact publications and breakthrough technologies.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, or related field with NLP focus.
• Minimum of 5 years post-PhD research experience in AI/NLP.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge NLP and AI research.
• Develop novel NLP models and techniques.
• Publish findings in top AI/NLP conferences/journals.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to translate research into applications.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to AI community.

Skills

Publications in NLP/AI conferences

Independent remote work

Strong written and verbalcommunication

Critical thinking

Education

PhD in CS/AI/Computational Linguistics

Tools

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

About the Role Our client is seeking an exceptional Principal AI Researcher specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to join their world-class research team. This is a fully remote opportunity, offering the chance to conduct groundbreaking research and contribute to state-of-the-art AI advancements from the comfort of your home. You will be at the forefront of NLP innovation, driving research into new algorithms, models, and applications. This senior role requires a Ph.D. in a relevant field, a strong publication record, and a deep understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of AI and NLP. You will collaborate with a globally distributed team of leading researchers and engineers, tackling some of the most challenging problems in AI. Our client is committed to fostering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating remote environment where innovation thrives. This position offers unparalleled opportunities for intellectual exploration, publication in top-tier venues, and the development of impactful technologies. We value curiosity, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence. Your work will shape the future of how machines understand and generate human language.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research in Natural Language Processing and related areas of Artificial Intelligence.
• Develop novel NLP models, algorithms, and techniques to advance the state-of-the-art.
• Publish research findings in top-tier AI conferences and journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ACL, EMNLP).
• Collaborate with engineering teams to translate research breakthroughs into practical AI applications.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the growth of the AI research community within the company.
• Design and execute rigorous experiments to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of new models and approaches.
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in AI, NLP, machine learning, and deep learning research globally.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the AI research roadmap.
• Present research findings internally and externally to diverse audiences.
• Explore new research avenues and propose innovative projects.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, or a closely related field with a strong focus on NLP.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-Ph.D. research experience in AI/NLP.
• Demonstrated track record of impactful publications in leading NLP/AI conferences and journals.
• Deep understanding of core NLP concepts (e.g., sequence modeling, attention mechanisms, transformers, language generation, semantic understanding).
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience with large-scale language models (LLMs) and their applications.
• Strong theoretical foundation in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a globally distributed, remote research team.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for research dissemination.
• Prior experience within the Durban tech or academic scene is a plus but not essential for this remote role.

Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package, including research-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health benefits and wellness support.
• Generous funding for research resources, including cloud compute and datasets.
• Extensive opportunities for professional growth, conference participation, and publication support.
• Stock options and long-term incentives.
• Flexible remote work schedule.
• Access to a world-class research environment and leading experts in AI.
• Relocation assistance if desired, though the role is fully remote.
• Retirement savings plan.