Senior Research Scientist

NIQ is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Research Scientist to join our advanced AI/GenAI team. In this role, you will lead the design, experimentation, and implementation of cutting-edge Generative AI services. You will work at the intersection of research and engineering, transforming theoretical advancements into scalable, production-ready solutions. Your expertise in Python, data pipelines, and AI/ML will be critical in shaping the future of our AI-driven products.

Responsibilities:

• Lead research and development of GenAI models and services, with a focus on real-world applications.
• Rapidly prototype and validate experimental approaches to assess feasibility and effectiveness.
• Act as a technical reference and mentor for other team members, providing guidance on best practices, architecture, and model development.
• Translate complex business requirements into clear, actionable research tasks and technical objectives.
• Design and implement robust data pipelines to support large-scale AI/ML experimentation and deployment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including ML engineers, data scientists, and product managers to define research goals and translate them into deliverables.
• Conduct rigorous experimentation, benchmarking, and evaluation of GenAI models (e.g., LLMs, diffusion models).
• Stay abreast of the latest research in GenAI, NLP, and machine learning, and apply findings to improve model performance and capabilities.
• Develop high-quality, maintainable Python code for research prototypes and production systems.
• Contribute to the publication of research findings in top-tier conferences and journals (optional but encouraged).
• Support the deployment of GenAI services on cloud platforms, preferably Azure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in AI/ML development, with a strong focus on NLP, generative AI, and vector search.
• Strong proficiency in Python programming, with hands-on experience using libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face Transformers, and LangChain.
• Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals, including deep learning, optimization techniques, generative AI, NLP, LLMs, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
• Expertise in transformer-based models and embeddings (e.g., BERT, RoBERTa, GPT), and their application in real-world scenarios.
• Proficiency with vector databases and approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) search tools such as FAISS, Milvus, or Pinecone.
• Experience building and maintaining scalable data pipelines using tools like Pandas, Spark, or Airflow.
• Familiarity with SQL for data manipulation and analysis.
• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a research-oriented mindset.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work in cross-functional teams.

Additional Information

• Work on cutting-edge GenAI research with real-world impact.
• Be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team at the forefront of AI innovation.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for continuous learning, research publication, and professional growth.

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

Want to keep up with our latest updates?

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence. All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion