Principal Research Scientist

Company Description

NielsenIQ is a consumer intelligence company that delivers the Full View™, the world’s most complete and clear understanding of consumer buying behavior that reveals new pathways to growth. Since 1923, NIQ has moved measurement forward for industries and economies across the globe. We are putting the brightest and most dedicated minds together to accelerate progress. Our diversity brings out the best in each other so we can leave a lasting legacy on the work that we do and the people that we do it with. NielsenIQ offers a range of products and services that leverage Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to provide insights into consumer behavior and market trends. This position opens the opportunity to apply the latest state of the art in AI/ML and data science to global and key strategic projects. 

Job Description

Job Description: 

NIQ is seeking an exceptional and visionary Principal Research Scientist to lead innovation in our advanced AI and Generative AI initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will shape the future of AI-driven products by driving the research, development, and deployment of state-of-the-art GenAI technologies. You will operate at the forefront of AI innovation, bridging cutting-edge research with scalable, real-world applications. 

As a Principal Research Scientist, you will define and execute strategic research agendas, mentor cross-functional teams, and collaborate with senior stakeholders to deliver transformative AI solutions. Your deep expertise in machine learning, large language models, and data systems will be instrumental in advancing our AI capabilities and delivering business impact at scale. 

Responsibilities: 

• Drive the strategic direction of GenAI research initiatives, identifying high-impact opportunities and aligning them with organizational goals. 
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge GenAI models and systems, ensuring scalability, robustness, and real-world applicability. 
• Architect end-to-end AI solutions, from data ingestion to model deployment, with a focus on production-readiness and long-term maintainability. 
• Mentor and lead cross-functional research teams, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. 
• Define and prioritize research roadmaps, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term innovation. 
• Translate complex business and product needs into visionary research strategies and actionable technical plans. 
• Oversee rigorous experimentation and benchmarking of GenAI models (e.g., LLMs, diffusion models), ensuring scientific rigor and reproducibility. 
• Collaborate with executive stakeholders, product leaders, and engineering teams to influence product direction and integrate research outcomes into production. 
• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies, tools, and methodologies to maintain a competitive edge in GenAI. 
• Ensure responsible AI practices, including fairness, transparency, and ethical considerations in model development and deployment. 

Qualifications

Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience. 
• 10+ years of experience in AI/ML research and development, with a strong track record in generative AI, NLP, and large-scale model deployment. 
• Recognized expertise in transformer-based architectures, LLMs, diffusion models, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). 
• Proven experience leading large-scale AI projects from conception to deployment, including cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management. 
• Deep proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face Transformers, and LangChain. 
• Strong background in vector search technologies (e.g., FAISS, Milvus, Pinecone) and embedding-based retrieval systems. 
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale robust data pipelines using tools like Spark, Airflow, and distributed computing frameworks. 
• Experience with cloud-native AI development (Azure preferred), including containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and MLOps practices. 
• Strong publication record or equivalent contributions to the AI/ML community (e.g., open-source projects, patents, technical leadership). 
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences at all levels. 
• Passion for mentoring, team development, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. 

Additional Information

Why Join Us: 

• Work on cutting-edge GenAI research with real-world impact. 
• Be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team at the forefront of AI innovation. 
• 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?

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

NIQ is committed to reflecting the diversity of the clients, communities, and markets we measure within our own workforce. We exist to count everyone and are on a mission to systematically embed inclusion and diversity into all aspects of our workforce, measurement, and products. We enthusiastically invite candidates who share that mission to join us. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, protected veteran status or any other protected class. Our global non-discrimination policy covers these protected classes in every market in which we do business worldwide. Learn more about how we are driving diversity and inclusion in everything we do by visiting the NIQ News Center: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion