Senior AI Researcher - Natural Language Processing

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Salary & bonuses

Equity options

Health insurance

Home office stipend

Conference support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior AI Researcher specializing in NLP to join a remote-first research team. You will develop and optimize cutting-edge NLP models for tasks such as text generation, sentiment analysis, information extraction, and question answering.

You will publish findings in top AI venues, mentor researchers, and drive research initiatives while collaborating with distributed colleagues across the globe. Strong theoretical NLP and deep learning expertise are required.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in CS/AI with NLP focus.
• 5+ years in NLP research with publications or open-source contributions.
• Expertise in Transformers, LSTMs, CNNs for NLP.
• Strong Python skills and NLP libraries (Transformers, NLTK, spaCy).
• Experience with TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Experience with large-scale text data and distributed computing.
• Excellent analytical, communication and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental and applied NLP research.
• Develop novel NLP algorithms for translation, summarization, and dialogue.
• Implement and fine-tune models with TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX.
• Design experiments to evaluate performance and scalability.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to integrate NLP into products.
• Publish findings in leading AI conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, ACL).
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to research roadmaps.

Skills

NLP

Deep Learning

Transformers

Python

Hugging Face

Research leadership

Education

PhD in CS/AI

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

JAX

NLTK

spaCy

Job description

About the Role

This is a fully remote opportunity for a Senior AI Researcher specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP), working with our client. You will be joining a world-class research team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. Your primary focus will be on developing and implementing cutting‑edge NLP models for a variety of applications, including text generation, sentiment analysis, information extraction, and question answering. As a remote‑first researcher, you will have the autonomy to drive research initiatives, collaborate with globally distributed colleagues, and publish your findings in top‑tier AI conferences and journals. The ideal candidate will have a deep theoretical understanding of NLP techniques, extensive hands‑on experience with deep learning frameworks, and a proven track record of innovation in the field. This role offers the chance to work on challenging, impactful projects with significant industry influence, all from the comfort of your home office. We value creativity, technical excellence, and a collaborative spirit.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental and applied research in Natural Language Processing and understanding.
• Develop novel algorithms and models for tasks such as machine translation, summarization, and dialogue systems.
• Implement and fine‑tune deep learning models using frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate model performance and scalability.
• Analyze large text datasets to extract insights and identify patterns.
• Collaborate with other researchers and engineers to integrate NLP solutions into products and services.
• Stay current with the latest research trends and publications in NLP and AI.
• Publish research findings in leading AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ACL) and journals.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the team’s technical expertise.
• Contribute to the development of research roadmaps and proposals.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent research experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field, with a specialization in NLP.
• 5+ years of research experience in NLP, demonstrated through publications in top‑tier venues or significant contributions to open‑source projects.
• Expertise in deep learning architectures for NLP, such as Transformers, LSTMs, and CNNs.
• Strong programming skills in Python, with extensive experience using NLP libraries (e.g., Hugging Face Transformers, NLTK, spaCy).
• Proficiency with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and experimental design.
• Experience working with large‑scale text data and distributed computing environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• As a fully remote position, our client offers unparalleled flexibility and work‑life balance.
• The compensation package includes a top‑tier salary, significant performance bonuses, and equity options.
• We provide a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, plus a generous home office stipend.
• Professional development is highly valued, with support for conference attendance and continuous learning.
• This role, theoretically based in Randburg, Gauteng , allows you to make a global impact from anywhere.
• We foster a culture of innovation and intellectual curiosity, offering substantial opportunities for career advancement within our leading AI research division.
• Enjoy the freedom and autonomy of remote work while contributing to the forefront of AI innovation.