Remote Lead AI Research Scientist

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 2,334,000 - 3,501,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Medical insurance

Professional development

Stock options

Flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead AI Research Scientist to spearhead innovative projects in a fully remote research division. You will lead researchers and engineers, define research directions, and translate theory into practical solutions, publishing in top venues.

This is a globally distributed, remote-first role that values curiosity and scientific excellence. You will drive research in deep learning, RL, NLP, and computer vision; collaborate with product teams; and contribute to IP while mentoring

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence/ML or related field.
• 8+ years of AI/ML research, including lead/senior experience.
• Publications in top AI conferences and/or influential open-source contributions.
• Deep understanding of ML theory, algorithms, and frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Proven experience leading research projects from conception to completion.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience working in a remote/distributed team environment.
• Proficiency in Python, C++, and relevant AI libraries.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a passion for discovery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of AI researchers and engineers.
• Define and drive the AI research agenda across DL, RL, NLP, and CV.
• Develop and implement novel AI models and algorithms.
• Conduct rigorous experiments and analysis to validate hypotheses.
• Publish high-quality papers in leading AI conferences and journals.
• Collaborate with product teams to translate research into real-world apps.
• Stay abreast of AI trends and opportunities in the field.
• Contribute to IP through patents and disclosures.
• Champion best practices in research methodology and reproducibility.

Skills

Leadership

Research leadership

ML theory

Communication

Remote collaboration

Analytical thinking

Mentoring

Python

Education

PhD in CS/AI/ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Python

C++

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Lead AI Research Scientist to spearhead innovative projects in a fully remote research division. You will lead researchers and engineers, define research directions, and translate theory into practical solutions, publishing in top venues.

This is a globally distributed, remote-first role that values curiosity and scientific excellence. You will drive research in deep learning, RL, NLP, and computer vision; collaborate with product teams; and contribute to IP while mentoring