Data Scientist, Principal

Your Role

The AI & Machine Learning team works in partnership across the enterprise to accelerate business outcomes by applying AI, machine learning, and generative AI to build intelligent products that create "intelligence at scale." Reporting to the Director, AI & Machine Learning, the Data Scientist, Principal will lead the development and deployment of novel applications that leverage generative AI models.

This role focuses on rapidly developing new features and working across partner teams to deliver solutions and maximize impact, translating cutting-edge AI research into real-world products and taking features from 0 to 1. You will design, build, and ship production-grade AI products including LLM-powered applications, AI agents and copilots, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and search, and AI-enabled automation embedded directly into customer-facing applications and enterprise workflows such as claims, payment integrity, clinical insights, and member experience.

You will set the technical direction for how AI is applied across the organization.

Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow - personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high-performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.

Your Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, a quantitative discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• 8 years of experience in software development and applied AI/ML with a Bachelor's degree; or 5 years with a Master's; or a PhD with relevant experience
• Proven track record of building and shipping software products rapidly-not just developing models or analyses
• Strong software engineering skills and proficiency in Python, including building APIs and backend services
• Experience leading ML design and optimizing ML infrastructure-model deployment, evaluation, and data processing-and working with machine learning frameworks and libraries
• Hands-on experience with deep learning and LLM application frameworks, including PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, and LangGraph
• Hands-on experience building applications that leverage generative AI models, including prompt engineering and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
• Experience with generative AI research or applications preferred
• Experience designing agent-based systems and orchestration frameworks preferred
• Experience with cloud computing platforms and infrastructure (e.g., Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS), and scalable data processing with SQL or Spark preferred
• Solid MLOps and LLMOps practices, including CI/CD, monitoring, and model lifecycle management preferred
• Experience rapidly developing and shipping software in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment, adapting to changing priorities preferred
• Understanding of responsible AI and governance for regulated or healthcare environments preferred

Hybrid

This role requires employees to be in-office based on our hybrid workplace model, balancing purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. For most teams, this means coming into the office two days each week.

Employees living more than 50 miles from an office location will work with their manager to determine in-office time based on business need.

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Your Work

In this role, you will

• Lead the development and deployment of novel applications that leverage generative AI models, setting the technical direction for AI and machine learning across the organization
• Design and develop scalable applications leveraging generative AI models including LLM applications, copilots, agents, and RAG and search, embedded in customer-facing products and enterprise workflows
• Rapidly prototype new features and iterate based on evaluation results
• Lead the architecture and development of new products and features from 0 to 1
• Collaborate with researchers and product managers to translate cutting-edge AI research into tangible product features
• Build the APIs, services, and data and retrieval pipelines that expose AI capabilities to applications
• Optimize software performance and ensure the reliability of deployed applications
• Champion best practices for building and deploying generative AI applications
• Evaluate model performance, analyze results, and implement improvements, ensuring responsible and compliant AI
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment

Your Work

In this role, you will

• Lead the development and deployment of novel applications that leverage generative AI models, setting the technical direction for AI and machine learning across the organization
• Design and develop scalable applications leveraging generative AI models including LLM applications, copilots, agents, and RAG and search, embedded in customer-facing products and enterprise workflows
• Rapidly prototype new features and iterate based on evaluation results
• Lead the architecture and development of new products and features from 0 to 1
• Collaborate with researchers and product managers to translate cutting-edge AI research into tangible product features
• Build the APIs, services, and data and retrieval pipelines that expose AI capabilities to applications
• Optimize software performance and ensure the reliability of deployed applications
• Champion best practices for building and deploying generative AI applications
• Evaluate model performance, analyze results, and implement improvements, ensuring responsible and compliant AI
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment

Skills

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Analysis Skills, Application Programming Interface (API), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agents, Automation, Cloud Computing, Computer Science, Computer Skills, Computer Systems, Continuous Deployment/Delivery, Continuous Integration, Customer Experience, Customer Relations, Data Management, Data Processing, Data Recovery, Data Science, Embedded Systems, Engineering, Healthcare, Leadership, Machine Learning, Mentoring, Microsoft Windows Azure, Performance Analysis, Performance Modeling, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Product Development, Product Shipments, Prototyping, Python Programming/Scripting Language, SQL (Structured Query Language), Scalable System Development, Software Design, Software Development, Software Engineering, Team Player

About the Company

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

At the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), we provide business strategy, technical support and consulting expertise to 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the nation, employing more than 1,000 of the best strategic thinkers in the industry.

We are a Brand manager that sets quality control standards for the 36 independent companies that use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Brands, and we serve as a trade association that represents these Blue companies. It is through our involvement that the Blues companies share a united vision and strategy while also benefiting from the local strength of all member companies.

Company Size

2,000 to 2,499 employees

Industry

Insurance

Founded

0

Website

https://www.bcbs.com/about-us/careers