Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Location: Columbus, Ohio (Onsite)
Employment Type: Contract to Perm

Role Overview

An AI Center of Excellence (CoE) is seeking a skilled Lead Data Scientist with expertise in modern AI technologies. The ideal candidate will apply knowledge in machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence to design, develop, and deploy models that support strategic decision-making. This role will be dedicated to AI Automation value streams and will lead data science initiatives from concept through deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Product Owner to manage the end-to-end AI development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, data sourcing, model development, proof-of-concept demonstrations, risk governance reviews, and production deployment across both on-premises and AWS environments.
• Demonstrate professional ownership in managing project activities, maintaining transparent communication with leadership, and proactively surfacing risks or resource needs.
• Apply automation techniques to streamline manual processes, enhance productivity, and develop reusable, scalable self-service tools and assets.
• Stay current with emerging machine learning, cloud, and AI technologies, driving innovation by evaluating and integrating new capabilities into existing workflows.

Required Qualifications

Education: PhD or Master's degree in Statistics, Economics, Data Science, or a related field.

Experience: Three to five years of related work experience in AWS cloud machine learning or a similar AI platform.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in programming languages including Python (preferred) or R, and Spark. Working knowledge of Large Language Models (e.g., Llama, Claude, Titan), including experience with frameworks such as LangChain, vector databases, embeddings, and prompt engineering. Familiarity with AWS Sagemaker, Lambda, S3, and Athena.

Preferred Qualifications

• Willingness to step outside traditional modeling tasks to solve broader technical or business challenges.
• Hands-on experience with LLM fine-tuning.
• Practical understanding of advanced Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) methods such as MMR, multi-vector retrieval, RAG-fusion, and retrieval evaluation frameworks.
• Knowledge and practical experience with Agentic AI and agentic workflows, including task orchestration, multi-agent collaboration, and tool-use agents.
• Hands-on experience with advanced AWS AI/ML services such as Bedrock, JumpStart, Textract, and related ML orchestration capabilities.

Compensation & Benefits

A competitive compensation and benefits package will be provided. Specific details will be discussed during the interview process. Our organization is committed to pay equity and providing a comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.

This employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. We encourage veterans and military personnel to apply.

Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Everforth Apex and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at

Everforth Apex Benefits Overview: Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.

Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in an interview with a virtual recruiter or to use our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note that this contact information is strictly to be used for medical ADA accommodations and that no other inquiries will be answered.

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