Remote AI/ML Research Scientist - Reinforcement Learning

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Conference attendance support

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a brilliant Remote AI/ML Research Scientist specialized in Reinforcement Learning to join its AI & Emerging Technologies division. This fully remote role enables groundbreaking research from anywhere, focusing on advancing RL algorithms for real-world problems.

You'll conduct theoretical work, develop algorithms, validate them, and collaborate across researchers and engineers to integrate RL solutions.

Qualifications

• PhD in CS/AI/ML required or closely related field.
• Strong theoretical foundation in reinforcement learning.
• Proven publication record in major AI/ML venues.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental and applied RL research.
• Develop novel RL approaches for complex decision problems.
• Implement, test, and validate RL algorithms in simulations and real data.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to deploy RL solutions.
• Publish findings in top AI/ML conferences and journals.
• Analyze experimental results to guide future research.
• Stay up-to-date with RL advancements.

Skills

Reinforcement Learning

Theoretical ML

Python

Deep Learning

Scientific communication

Collaboration

Independent research

Education

PhD in Computer Science / AI / ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

OpenAI Gym

MuJoCo

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for a brilliant and innovative Remote AI/ML Research Scientist with a specialization in Reinforcement Learning (RL) to join their world-class AI & Emerging Technologies division. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute to groundbreaking research from anywhere. You will focus on advancing the state-of-the‑art in RL algorithms and their applications to solve complex real‑world problems. This role involves theoretical research, algorithm development, and empirical validation, requiring a deep understanding of both machine learning fundamentals and cutting‑edge RL techniques. Become a key part of a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI and shaping its future.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental and applied research in reinforcement learning theory and algorithms.
• Develop novel RL approaches for complex decision‑making problems.
• Implement, test, and validate RL algorithms using simulation environments and real‑world data.
• Collaborate with other researchers and engineers to integrate RL solutions into larger systems.
• Publish research findings in top‑tier AI/ML conferences and journals.
• Analyze and interpret experimental results, drawing insights to guide future research.
• Stay updated with the latest advancements in reinforcement learning and related fields.
• Contribute to building a culture of scientific excellence and innovation.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a closely related field.
• Strong theoretical foundation and practical experience in reinforcement learning (e.g., Q‑learning, policy gradients, deep RL).
• Proven publication record in leading AI/ML conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, AAAI).
• Proficiency in Python and experience with deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with simulation environments (e.g., OpenAI Gym, MuJoCo) is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, comfortable working in a fully remote setting.
• Ability to work independently and manage research projects effectively.

Benefits

This fully remote role offers unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to work on high‑impact research in AI & Emerging Technologies . Our client provides a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and significant support for professional development, including conference attendance and further education. You will join a vibrant, intellectually stimulating community of researchers dedicated to advancing AI. While the role is remote, it's associated with our key development hub in Mossel Bay, Western Cape , ensuring you are part of a connected and supportive team.