Svitla Systems Inc. is looking for a Senior Data Scientist for a full-time position (40 hours per week) in Ukraine. Our client is an early-stage AI startup headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. It is a human-centered artificial intelligence company dedicated to developing practical and approachable AI tools for real-world applications. Headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with a distributed team across the U.S., it is led by a founding team of tech entrepreneurs with over a decade of experience. The company is dedicated to creating AI that enhances, rather than replaces, human intelligence. The company is currently developing an AI platform to empower knowledge workers, creatives, and small businesses.. They develop a human-centered, emotionally aware AI chat agent with customizable personalities that can serve as a witty companion, insightful consultant, or strategic advisor. Their technology supports multiple GPU platforms (ROCm, Metal, CUDA) and emphasizes creating natural, human-like interactions.
You will join their innovative Research & Development team. In this pivotal role, you will lead the charge in solving the most complex challenges, architecting innovative data science solutions, and driving the strategic direction of the machine learning initiatives. The ideal candidate is a recognized expert with a distinguished track record of conceptualizing, developing, and deploying high-impact machine learning models that deliver substantial business value. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI at the company, mentoring a talented team, and championing data-driven innovation throughout the organization.
Requirements
- Master’s or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field. (PhD often preferred for Senior roles).
- 5+ years of experience in a data science role, with a strong portfolio of successfully delivered, complex machine learning projects in production environments.
- Deep and broad expertise in statistical modeling, backpropagation, advanced machine learning algorithms (e.g., deep learning, NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, causal inference, Bayesian methods), and their theoretical underpinnings.
- Expert-level knowledge of Python for data science, mastery of core libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn), and experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
- Understanding the full model development lifecycle: from ambiguous problem definition and data strategy to sophisticated feature engineering, model selection, rigorous validation, scalable deployment, and ongoing monitoring/iteration.
- Advanced knowledge in SQL and experience with various database technologies (relational, NoSQL, graph databases).
- Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, and strategic problem-solving skills can tackle ill-defined problems and drive the pursuit of impactful solutions.
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex technical concepts.
- Demonstrated experience in executing data science projects, mentoring team members, and contributing to technical design.
- A strong publication record in top-tier AI/ML conferences, patents, or journals is highly desirable.
Nice to have
- Experience in MLOps practices and tools (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD for ML).
- Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), including their advanced ML services and infrastructure components.
- Proven ability to design and implement solutions for large-scale data processing using big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Dask, Kafka, distributed computing frameworks).
- Solid knowledge of one or more of the following: Natural Language Processing (NLP) at scale, advanced Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning applications, Large Language Models (LLMs), Causal Inference, or Text-to-Speech Models (TTS).
- Advanced knowledge of C++ for building and optimizing high-performance ML inference engines or system components.
- Advanced understanding of CUDA programming and GPU kernel optimization for machine learning workloads.
- Experience in software engineering best practices and contributing to production-grade codebases.
- Active contributions to major open-source data science or machine learning projects.
Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end lifecycle of critical data science experiments, from ideation and strategic alignment with business goals to model development, deployment, and long-term performance optimization.
- Independently design and implement highly scalable and robust machine learning systems, advanced statistical models, and cutting-edge AI solutions for complex, often ambiguous, problems.
- Execute the technical vision and roadmap for key experiments, identifying new opportunities for innovation and strategic application of research and machine learning.
- Conduct sophisticated exploratory data analysis and research to uncover deep insights, validate hypotheses, and inform the development of novel algorithms and features.
- Provide mentorship and guidance to data scientists and analysts, fostering their growth and ensuring high standards of technical excellence and best practices.
- Champion data science best practices, including rigorous model validation, A/B testing frameworks, ML principles, and reproducible research.
- Collaborate closely with leadership, product managers, engineering leads, and key stakeholders to translate business needs into impactful data science strategies, experiments, and solutions.
- Effectively communicate complex technical findings, strategic recommendations, and project outcomes to diverse audiences, including leadership and external partners.
- Stay at the absolute forefront of the AI/ML field, actively researching, evaluating, and pioneering the adoption of state-of-the-art techniques, tools, and methodologies.
- Contribute to the company’s intellectual property through publications, patents, or internal innovations.
- Influence and improve the data infrastructure and tooling to support advanced data science capabilities.
We offer
- US and EU projects based on advanced technologies.
- Competitive compensation based on skills and experience.
- Flexibility in workspace, either remote or in one of our development offices.
- Support of a healthy lifestyle, compensation for running events.
- Bonuses for article writing, public talks, other activities.
- Free webinars, meetups and conferences organized by Svitla.
- Corporate celebrations and activities, regular lectures on various topics.
- Awesome team, friendly and supportive community!
About Svitla
Svitla Systems is a global digital solutions company headquartered in California, with business and development offices throughout the US, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Svitla is an outspoken advocate of workplace flexibility, best known for its well-established remote culture, individual approach to our teammate’s professional and personal growth, and trustworthy environment.
Since 2003, Svitla has served a wide range of clients, from innovative start-ups in California to mega-large corporations such as Ingenico, Amplience, InvoiceASAP and Global Citizen. At Svitla, developers work with clients’ teams directly, building lasting and successful partnerships, as a result of seamless integration with on-site processes.
Svitla Systems’ global mission is to build a business that contributes to the well-being of our partners, personnel and their families, improves our communities, and makes a lasting difference in the world. Join us!
