Remote Principal AI & ML Research Scientist

Placements24; Benoni; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first organization

Excellent health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous paid time off

Online courses & virtual conferences

Global collaboration

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Research Scientist for a remote-first position. You will lead cutting-edge AI/ML research, develop novel algorithms, and steer large-scale experiments from home. The role requires developing scalable systems and mentoring a world-class team of scientists.

You will publish in top venues, collaborate across disciplines, and help shape a strategic AI roadmap while working flexibly in a distributed environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, AI, ML or related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of progressive AI/ML research with strong publication record.
• Proven experience leading research initiatives and mentoring teams.
• Expertise in at least two major AI/ML areas (e.g., DL, NLP, CV).
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with large-scale data processing and distributed computing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for remote work.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage projects remotely.
• Experience in a research-intensive industry role is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact AI/ML research in deep learning, NLP, and computer vision.
• Develop novel algorithms, models, and frameworks for complex challenges.
• Design scalable ML systems for research and production.
• Collaborate to define research roadmaps and objectives.
• Publish findings in top conferences and journals.
• Mentor junior researchers and grow the team’s expertise.
• Evaluate emerging AI/ML technologies and methods.
• Contribute to IP generation and patent applications.
• Ensure reproducibility and robustness of results.
• Participate in virtual meetings and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Skills

Research leadership

Publication track record

AI/ML expertise

Python programming

TensorFlow/PyTorch

Distributed computing

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD in Computer Science / AI / ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Python

HPC / distributed computing

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Research Scientist for a remote-first position. You will lead cutting-edge AI/ML research, develop novel algorithms, and steer large-scale experiments from home. The role requires developing scalable systems and mentoring a world-class team of scientists.

You will publish in top venues, collaborate across disciplines, and help shape a strategic AI roadmap while working flexibly in a distributed environment.