Senior AI Researcher, Natural Language Processing

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Stock options

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein is seeking a Senior AI Researcher with NLP expertise to advance language understanding and generation. You will design, implement, and evaluate novel NLP models, contributing to high-impact AI products and publications.

The role requires a Ph.D. in a related field, 6+ years of NLP research, and strong experience with DL frameworks and Python. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential in a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, AI, Computational Linguistics or related field with NLP focus.
• Minimum 6 years of research experience in NLP with publications in top venues.
• Strong programming and ML fundamentals; experience with DL frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge NLP research on text generation, sentiment analysis, MT and information extraction.
• Design and implement advanced NLP models and algorithms (Transformers, LSTMs).
• Lead development of NLP features from research to prototype and deployment.
• Collaborate with software engineers and PMs to integrate NLP into products.
• Analyze large text datasets and extract meaningful insights.
• Stay updated with AI/NLP advances through literature and conferences.
• Publish findings in top AI/NLP venues; mentor junior researchers.
• Evaluate and benchmark NLP models and systems.

Skills

NLP research

Machine learning

Transformers

Python

Deep learning

Education

PhD in Computer Science/AI/Computational Linguistics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Hugging Face Transformers

spaCy

NLTK

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading technology research firm, is seeking a talented Senior AI Researcher with expertise in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to join their innovative team in Bloemfontein, Free State . This role is pivotal in advancing the state-of-the-art in AI-driven language understanding and generation. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing novel NLP models and algorithms, conducting cutting-edge research, and contributing to high-impact AI products. The ideal candidate possesses a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field, with a strong publication record in NLP. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of conversational AI and intelligent systems in Bloemfontein .

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research in Natural Language Processing, focusing on areas such as text generation, sentiment analysis, machine translation, and information extraction.
• Design, develop, and implement advanced NLP models and algorithms, including deep learning architectures (e.g., Transformers, LSTMs).
• Lead the development of NLP-based features and applications, from research to prototyping and deployment.
• Collaborate with software engineers and product managers to integrate NLP capabilities into existing and new products.
• Analyze large text datasets, identify patterns, and extract meaningful insights.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and NLP research through literature review and conference participation.
• Publish research findings in top-tier AI and NLP conferences and journals.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the growth of the AI research team.
• Evaluate and benchmark the performance of NLP models and systems.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, or a related field with a specialization in NLP.
• Minimum of 6 years of research experience in NLP, with a strong publication record in reputable venues (e.g., ACL, EMNLP, NeurIPS).
• Deep understanding of machine learning principles and extensive experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
• Hands-on experience with various NLP techniques and libraries (e.g., Hugging Face Transformers, spaCy, NLTK).
• Experience with large-scale text data processing and analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to lead research projects and contribute effectively in a team environment.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary and an exceptional benefits package, including comprehensive health coverage, a generous retirement plan, and significant opportunities for professional development and continuous learning. Employees benefit from access to advanced computing resources and a dynamic research environment in Bloemfontein . The company actively supports work-life balance and provides a stimulating atmosphere for innovation and collaboration. Performance-based bonuses and potential for stock options are also part of the compensation structure.