Director of AI Research

Director of AI Research – Job DescriptionPosition Summary

The Director of AI Research leads the organization’s advanced research initiatives in artificial intelligence, driving innovation in machine learning, deep learning, and related fields. This role is responsible for setting the research agenda, overseeing cutting-edge projects, and translating scientific breakthroughs into practical applications that create business and technological value.

Key ResponsibilitiesResearch Strategy & Leadership

* Define and execute the AI research strategy aligned with long-term business and innovation goals

* Identify emerging trends and opportunities in AI (e.g., generative AI, large language models, reinforcement learning)

* Establish research priorities and roadmap

Research & Innovation

* Lead the design and execution of advanced AI research projects

* Drive innovation in areas such as NLP, computer vision, multimodal AI, and optimization

* Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR)

Translational Research

* Bridge the gap between research and product by collaborating with engineering and product teams

* Prototype and validate new algorithms and models for real-world applications

* Ensure scalability and feasibility of research outcomes

Team Leadership & Development

* Build and lead a high-performing team of research scientists and engineers

* Mentor researchers and foster a culture of scientific excellence and collaboration

* Recruit top talent from academia and industry

Collaboration & Partnerships

* Collaborate with universities, research institutions, and industry partners

* Establish joint research initiatives and innovation programs

* Represent the organization in academic and industry forums

Infrastructure & Tools

* Oversee research infrastructure, including compute resources (GPU/TPU clusters) and data pipelines

* Ensure access to high-quality datasets and experimentation platforms

* Promote reproducibility and best practices in research workflows

Ethics & Governance

* Ensure responsible AI practices, including fairness, transparency, and accountability

* Address ethical considerations and regulatory implications of AI research

* Establish guidelines for safe and compliant experimentation

Qualifications

* PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or related field

* 15+ years of experience in AI/ML research, with a strong publication record

* Proven leadership experience managing research teams or labs

* Deep expertise in machine learning, deep learning frameworks, and statistical modeling

* Experience with large-scale AI systems and distributed computing

* Strong track record of translating research into applied solutions is a plus

Key Competencies

* Scientific Leadership & Innovation

* Deep Technical Expertise in AI/ML

* Research-to-Product Translation

* Strategic Thinking

* Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing

* Communication & Thought Leadership

Reporting Structure

* Reports to: VP of AI, Chief Scientist, or CTO

* Direct Reports: Research Scientists, Applied Scientists, Research Engineers