Data Scientist, Staff

As a Staff Data Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in embedding intelligent agents into the very fabric of our product strategy. We believe that agentic AI is a cornerstone of our future offerings, driving innovation across our three key portfolios: safety, sustainability, and performance. In this role, you will guide the development and integration of agent-based solutions, ensuring they become a natural and powerful element of how we deliver value to our customers. Working Schedule The preferred candidate for this position should be located in the Greater Houston area and open to work a hybrid schedule with three (3) days in the ABS Headquarters Office located in Spring, Texas, and two (2) days of remote work. What You Will Do: • Lead the vision, strategy, and execution of enterprise-scale data science and AI initiatives, with emphasis on agentic AI solutions that deliver measurable business value. • Architect, develop, and deploy advanced AI/ML models and intelligent agent systems, ensuring scalability, interpretability, and alignment with organizational priorities. • Drive cross-functional adoption of AI capabilities by influencing product roadmaps, setting technical standards, and ensuring consistent integration across portfolios. • Partner with executive leadership to identify and prioritize high-impact AI opportunities that align with corporate goals in safety, sustainability, and performance. • Serve as a principal technical authority and mentor for senior data scientists, fostering a culture of innovation, ethical AI use, and technical excellence. • Translate complex AI concepts into actionable strategies for non-technical stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making at all levels. • Lead design and implementation of enterprise-grade data architectures, pipelines, and platforms that enable rapid experimentation and deployment. • Oversee the development and governance of AI/ML model lifecycle management, from prototyping through monitoring and continuous improvement. • Collaborate with industry partners, academic institutions, and technology providers to bring cutting-edge AI techniques into production environments. • Ensure all AI-driven solutions meet rigorous standards for data quality, fairness, transparency, and regulatory compliance. • Direct the evaluation and integration of emerging AI tools, frameworks, and methodologies, including generative AI and large language models. • Champion Agile and iterative delivery practices tailored for AI/ML development, ensuring rapid feedback and continuous learning. • Generate intellectual property through novel AI approaches, patents, and publications that position the organization as a thought leader. • Lead post-deployment analysis to measure the impact of AI initiatives and guide future investments. Develop and deploy scalable and interpretable data products per the business-defined requirements. What You Will Need: Education and Experience • Required – At least 6 to 8 years of experience in data science, computer science, information systems, engineering, or other relevant fields, including a proven track record in applied AI and machine learning. • Preferred – 1+ years of experience specifically in agentic AI or similar emerging agent frameworks • Required – Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, information systems, engineering, or a closely related field. • Preferred - Master’s Degree in Data Science, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering or a closely related field. • Prefer to have Azure AI Fundamentals or equivalent • Prefer to have Azure Data Scientist Associate or equivalent • Prefer to have Azure AI Engineer Associate or equivalent • Prefer to have credentials or training in generative AI, agent-based modeling, and multi-agent systems Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Demonstrated mastery in developing and deploying agentic AI solutions and a proven track record of integrating AI-driven agents into large-scale products. • Expert-level proficiency in machine learning, statistical modeling, and AI frameworks including but not limited to Python, PyTorch, and Azure AI services. • Strong capability to lead and mentor senior data scientists and cross-functional teams in AI best practices and ethical AI deployment. • Ability to translate complex AI and data science concepts into actionable business strategies and clear recommendations for non-technical stakeholders. • Advanced experience with generative AI and large language models, and the ability to leverage these technologies to create scalable, interpretable, and business-aligned AI solutions. • Strong proficiency in designing and overseeing complex data architectures and pipelines, ensuring robust data governance and quality. • Proven ability to drive innovation and generate intellectual property through the application of novel AI techniques. • Ability to stay at the forefront of the field by continuously learning and applying the latest advancements in AI and data science. • Display an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to devise practical, out-of-the-box solutions to complex business challenges. • Establish organizational AI governance frameworks that define ethical guidelines, performance metrics, and compliance standards for all AI-driven initiatives. • Shape the external perception of the organization’s AI leadership through keynote speaking, industry working group participation, and thought leadership publications. • Secure strategic partnerships with technology vendors, startups, and research institutions to accelerate adoption of transformative AI capabilities. • Working knowledge of the ABS Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Management System. Reporting Relationships: Reports to Sr. Director, Commercial Digital Products. May have individual contributor direct reports