Principal AI Researcher - Reinforcement Learning

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work arrangement

Relocation assistance to Bloemfontein

Conference attendance and research预算

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a distinguished Principal AI Researcher with a deep focus on Reinforcement Learning to lead cutting-edge research in Bloemfontein. You will define research directions, mentor researchers, and publish in top venues while collaborating with product teams to translate breakthroughs into real-world AI solutions.

This role offers a generous salary, a flexible hybrid work setup, relocation support if needed, and access to substantial computing resources to advance theory and

Qualifications

• This role requires a PhD with strong RL focus and a substantial RL portfolio.
• Excellent leadership, mentorship, and presentation abilities are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead cutting-edge RL research and define research directions.
• Mentor researchers and publish in top AI conferences and journals.
• Collaborate with product teams to translate research into scalable AI solutions.
• Represent the company at international conferences and workshops.

Skills

RL expertise

Leadership

Mentorship

Research strategy

Communication

Education

PhD in Computer Science / AI / ML with RL focus

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

OpenAI Gym

MuJoCo

Job description

About the Role

Our client is at the vanguard of AI research and development, and we are seeking a distinguished Principal AI Researcher with expertise in Reinforcement Learning (RL) to join our esteemed team. This pivotal role involves leading groundbreaking research initiatives, pushing the frontiers of RL theory and application. You will be instrumental in defining research directions, mentoring talented researchers, and publishing novel findings in top-tier venues. The position is based in **Bloemfontein**, a location that fosters a unique blend of academic rigor and practical innovation. We are looking for a visionary leader with a proven track record of significant contributions to the RL field. If you are driven by intellectual curiosity and a desire to make a profound impact on the future of artificial intelligence, this opportunity is for you. Join our client and help shape the next era of intelligent systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct cutting-edge research in Reinforcement Learning and its applications.
• Define and drive research agendas, exploring novel RL algorithms, theory, and frameworks.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI researchers and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation.
• Publish research findings in leading AI conferences and journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR).
• Collaborate with product teams to translate research breakthroughs into practical, scalable AI solutions.
• Represent the company at international conferences and workshops, sharing expertise in RL.
• Develop and maintain high-quality research code and documentation.
• Stay ahead of the curve on the latest advancements in AI and RL.
• Contribute to the strategic vision for AI research within the **Bloemfontein** hub.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field with a strong focus on Reinforcement Learning.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in AI research, with a substantial portfolio of impactful work in RL.
• Deep theoretical understanding and practical experience with various RL algorithms (e.g., Q-learning, Policy Gradients, Actor-Critic methods, model-based RL).
• Proven ability to design, implement, and evaluate complex RL systems.
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Track record of publications in top-tier AI conferences and journals.
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with simulation environments (e.g., OpenAI Gym, MuJoCo) is a plus.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Generous research budget and access to advanced computing resources.
• Significant opportunities for professional growth and impact.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement.
• Relocation assistance to **Bloemfontein** if needed.
• Exposure to challenging and impactful research problems.
• A vibrant and collaborative research community.
• Paid attendance to leading AI conferences.