Principal AI Scientist - Reinforcement Learning

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health, dental, vision insurance

Home office setup allowance

Conference travel support

Fully remote with flexible hours

Annual performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal AI Scientist (remote) with deep RL expertise to drive foundational research and create novel RL algorithms for large-scale intelligent systems.

You will lead research, publish in top conferences, mentor junior researchers, and deliver production-ready RL code. This fully remote role offers flexible hours and collaboration with a world-class global team.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, ML, or related field with strong RL focus.
• Significant publication record in top AI conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR).
• Expertise in developing and implementing RL algorithms (Q-learning, Policy Gradients, Actor-Critic).
• Proficiency in Python and DL frameworks (TensorFlow or PyTorch).
• Experience with simulations and real-world RL applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead groundbreaking RL research and develop novel algorithms.
• Design, implement, and validate RL agents for complex decision problems.
• Collaborate with research scientists and engineers on interdisciplinary projects.
• Analyze results, draw insights, and steer future research directions.
• Publish findings in leading AI venues and mentor junior researchers.
• Develop production-ready RL codebases and benchmark against state-of-the-art methods.
• Contribute to strategic RL research vision and applications.

Skills

Reinforcement Learning

Python

Deep Learning

Research Leadership

Education

PhD in Computer Science / ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a globally recognized leader in AI innovation, pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. We are seeking an exceptional Principal AI Scientist with deep expertise in Reinforcement Learning (RL) to join our fully remote team. This is a unique opportunity to drive foundational research and develop novel RL algorithms that will shape the future of intelligent systems. You will work on complex, large-scale problems, contributing to high-impact projects from inception to deployment. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, creativity, and a passion for scientific discovery. As a fully remote position, you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere, collaborating with a world-class team through advanced digital communication tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead groundbreaking research in Reinforcement Learning, developing novel algorithms and theoretical frameworks.
• Design, implement, and validate advanced RL agents for complex decision-making problems.
• Collaborate with other research scientists and engineers on interdisciplinary projects.
• Analyze experimental results, identify key insights, and guide future research directions.
• Publish findings in leading AI conferences and journals, establishing thought leadership.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the growth of the AI research community within the company.
• Develop and maintain high-quality, production-ready RL codebases.
• Evaluate and benchmark the performance of RL algorithms against state-of-the-art methods.
• Contribute to the strategic vision for RL research and its application areas.
• Stay at the forefront of RL advancements and actively participate in the broader scientific community.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field with a strong focus on Reinforcement Learning.
• Significant publication record in top-tier AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR).
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing various RL algorithms (e.g., Q-learning, Policy Gradients, Actor-Critic methods).
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Experience with simulation environments and applying RL to real-world problems.
• Strong theoretical understanding of machine learning, probability, and optimization.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage complex research projects autonomously.
• Outstanding communication and collaboration skills for remote teamwork.
• Proven ability to drive research initiatives from conception to completion.

Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package and stock options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous home office setup allowance.
• Unlimited professional development opportunities, including conference travel and research grants.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge research with a world-renowned team.
• Flexible work hours and a fully remote working environment.
• Regular virtual team-building events and meetups.
• Annual performance bonuses.