Lead AI Applied Scientist

The Friedkin Group • Houston, TX

2d

About The Position

The Lead AI Applied Scientist at The Friedkin Group (TFG) will spearhead the design, development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of advanced data science and Agentic AI initiatives across business units, directly aligning with strategic objectives. This role encompasses transforming innovative ideas into real-world solutions through the application of sophisticated analytical techniques such as statistical processing, machine learning, deep learning, GenAI, and Agentic AI. The incumbent will lead and help develop a newly formed data science and AI engineering task force to deliver impactful analytical solutions and Agentic AI products, ensuring these innovations are seamlessly embedded into business operations to drive and streamline decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. As part of this role, the applicant will play a significant part in setting the AI and ML agenda for assigned business units and initiatives within The Friedkin Group, including working with business units to identify potential opportunities and defining standards and best practices for AI and ML at TFG.

Requirements

• Master's Degree or
• PhD Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• 5-7 years Data science or a similar role
• Proficient in at least one analytical programming language relevant for data science. Python ecosystem preferred, R will be acceptable, machine learning libraries & frameworks and Agentic AI framework (e.g, PyTorch, scikit-learn, LangGraph, DeepAgent, Open AI Agent SDK) and familiar with data processing and visualization tools (e.g., SQL, Tableau, Power BI)
• Proficient in advanced analytical techniques (e.g., descriptive statistics, machine learning, pattern recognition, cluster analysis, deep learning etc.)
• Project experience of Agentic AI life cycle development and knowledgeable of Agentic AI development framework, observability tool, and AgentOps.
• Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and Data/ML platforms (Databricks)
• Strong understanding of the Machine Learning lifecycle - feature engineering, training, validation, scaling, deployment, monitoring, and feedback loop
• Good understanding of programming best practices, building for re-use and highly automated CI/CD pipelines
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to successfully deliver complex data-driven projects
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex technical details into understandable business insights
• Sees overall 'picture' and alternative approaches and develop vision of what may be possible
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working effectively with and developing trust from both non-technical and technical counterparts to influence key use case & enterprise decisions

Nice To Haves

• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate or AWS Certified Machine Learning, AWS Cloud Engineering. Preferred

Responsibilities

• Translates business requirements into analytical and automation requirements to support data-driven decisions with the required information and explainability.
• Keep abreast of the latest data science and AI techniques and technologies. Explore and implement innovative solutions to improve data analytics, ML modeling capabilities, and business transformation using Agentic AI.
• Communicate complex data insights in a clear and effective manner to stakeholders across the organization, including non-technical audiences. Advocate for the importance and value of data-driven and AI-driven decision-making and business operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage data science projects, including managing workflows and priorities, to ensure the timely delivery of projects with high-quality outcomes.
• Lead the design and development of AI agents for diverse use cases. Make high-level architectural decisions to ensure agents are robust, scalable, and easily integrated into enterprise workflows. Oversee testing protocols to validate agent accuracy, reliability, and compliance with business requirements. Monitor agent performance, gather user feedback, and drive ongoing enhancements to agent capabilities.
• Manage use case design and lead a dedicated development team on a day-to-day basis, providing guidance and feedback as they develop and operationalize data science models, algorithms, and Agentic AI solutions to solve complex business problems.
• Work closely with product, engineering, and business teams to deliver innovative AI solutions.
• Ensure use case models, analytics, and Agentic AI solutions are supported, maintained, and improved (as needed) post-development and launch.
• Guide and sign off on analytics and modeling approaches, model deployment requirements, and quality assurance standards with input from use case teams and business leadership.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, and lead the exploration and adoption of new data science technologies and methodologies to contribute to the advancement of TFG’s analytics expertise.
• Work with a wide landscape of business and technical stakeholders to proactively identify applicable new technologies and opportunities, and communicate how they can deliver measurable business value.
• Own the analytics solution portfolio, including model maintenance and improvements over time.
• Carry out responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Benefits

• Career Growth: Advance your career with opportunities for leadership and personal development.
• Culture of Excellence: Be part of a supportive team that values your input and encourages innovation.
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that looks after both your professional and personal needs.
• Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, retirement plans, and generous paid leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees