AI Innovation Lead (JH/GL)
Incorra, New Berlin, NY, United States
Location:
Hybrid - 3 days per week in our office (NYC, Holmdel NJ, Boston MA, Stamford CT, Pittsfield MA, or Bethlehem PA).
Remote:
Possible for exceptional candidates willing to travel up to 20% to NYC.
Type:
Full-Time / Direct Hire
About the Role
We are seeking an
AI Innovation Lead
(Managing Lead Data Scientist) to spearhead our AI strategy and lead our Data Science Lab (DSL).
In this role, you will: Set the strategic direction of AI initiatives. Identify and implement cutting-edge AI/ML capabilities across the enterprise. Mentor and grow a high-performing team of data scientists. Drive real-world applications of AI to transform insurance and financial services - from underwriting and claims to customer service. Collaborate with senior executives on high-visibility projects that directly impact Guardian's financial performance and customer experience. This is a
high-impact leadership role
at the intersection of innovation, business strategy, and AI/ML technology.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead the Data Science Lab (DSL), setting vision, priorities, and aligning initiatives with Guardian's digital transformation goals. Manage, mentor, and scale a team of data scientists; foster a culture of innovation and excellence. Communicate insights, opportunities, and risks to senior leadership in clear, actionable terms. AI Innovation & Research
Stay at the forefront of AI/ML advancements, especially
Deep Learning, NLP, LLMs, and Generative AI . Build partnerships with academia and industry to test new AI methods. Introduce practical AI innovations that enhance Guardian's competitive edge. Create patentable methodologies and technologies. AI/ML Development & Applications
Design and deploy ML solutions on
unstructured data
(insurance contracts, medical records, sales notes, service logs). Deliver AI capabilities to improve
underwriting risk assessment, claims automation, and customer service . Leverage
GPU, distributed computing, and parallel processing
to scale solutions. Operational Excellence
Establish scalable frameworks and governance for responsible AI deployment. Evaluate and implement cutting-edge platforms and tools to optimize workflows. Lead proofs-of-concept for new data, software, and technologies. Collaboration & Influence
Partner with executives, product owners, engineers, and business leaders to solve core challenges with AI. Standardize data science practices across the enterprise. Represent Guardian as an AI thought leader at vendor meetings and industry events. What We're Looking For
Must-Have Qualifications
Education:
PhD + 6+ years experience, OR Master's + 8+ years, OR Bachelor's + 10+ years in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related. Technical Expertise:
7+ years hands-on ML model development. Deep experience with
Deep Learning, LLMs, NLP . Strong Python skills with
PyTorch
and/or
TensorFlow . Solid knowledge of algorithms and diverse ML models. Experience with
GPU computing, distributed systems, parallelism . Leadership:
Track record managing and scaling teams of
4+ data scientists . Proven technical leadership, mentoring, and performance management. Strong cross-functional collaboration with product, engineering, and business stakeholders. Soft Skills: Excellent communication and executive presentation skills. Analytical, detail-oriented, and business impact-driven. Preferred Experience
Insurance or financial services domain knowledge. Patent creation or applied research contributions. Experience bringing AI from prototype to market deployment. Why Join us as AI Innovation Lead?
Impact at scale:
Your work directly shapes our AI strategy and enterprise-wide transformation. Leadership visibility:
Collaborate with C-suite executives on strategic initiatives. Cutting-edge technology:
Apply Deep Learning, LLMs, and Generative AI to real-world problems. Career growth:
Build and lead a team that sets industry standards in responsible AI. Flexibility:
Hybrid model with relocation support or remote with travel. Competitive compensation & benefits:
Strong salary, comprehensive health benefits,
12% 401(k) match , 25% bonus.
Hybrid - 3 days per week in our office (NYC, Holmdel NJ, Boston MA, Stamford CT, Pittsfield MA, or Bethlehem PA).
Remote:
Possible for exceptional candidates willing to travel up to 20% to NYC.
Type:
Full-Time / Direct Hire
About the Role
We are seeking an
AI Innovation Lead
(Managing Lead Data Scientist) to spearhead our AI strategy and lead our Data Science Lab (DSL).
In this role, you will: Set the strategic direction of AI initiatives. Identify and implement cutting-edge AI/ML capabilities across the enterprise. Mentor and grow a high-performing team of data scientists. Drive real-world applications of AI to transform insurance and financial services - from underwriting and claims to customer service. Collaborate with senior executives on high-visibility projects that directly impact Guardian's financial performance and customer experience. This is a
high-impact leadership role
at the intersection of innovation, business strategy, and AI/ML technology.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead the Data Science Lab (DSL), setting vision, priorities, and aligning initiatives with Guardian's digital transformation goals. Manage, mentor, and scale a team of data scientists; foster a culture of innovation and excellence. Communicate insights, opportunities, and risks to senior leadership in clear, actionable terms. AI Innovation & Research
Stay at the forefront of AI/ML advancements, especially
Deep Learning, NLP, LLMs, and Generative AI . Build partnerships with academia and industry to test new AI methods. Introduce practical AI innovations that enhance Guardian's competitive edge. Create patentable methodologies and technologies. AI/ML Development & Applications
Design and deploy ML solutions on
unstructured data
(insurance contracts, medical records, sales notes, service logs). Deliver AI capabilities to improve
underwriting risk assessment, claims automation, and customer service . Leverage
GPU, distributed computing, and parallel processing
to scale solutions. Operational Excellence
Establish scalable frameworks and governance for responsible AI deployment. Evaluate and implement cutting-edge platforms and tools to optimize workflows. Lead proofs-of-concept for new data, software, and technologies. Collaboration & Influence
Partner with executives, product owners, engineers, and business leaders to solve core challenges with AI. Standardize data science practices across the enterprise. Represent Guardian as an AI thought leader at vendor meetings and industry events. What We're Looking For
Must-Have Qualifications
Education:
PhD + 6+ years experience, OR Master's + 8+ years, OR Bachelor's + 10+ years in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related. Technical Expertise:
7+ years hands-on ML model development. Deep experience with
Deep Learning, LLMs, NLP . Strong Python skills with
PyTorch
and/or
TensorFlow . Solid knowledge of algorithms and diverse ML models. Experience with
GPU computing, distributed systems, parallelism . Leadership:
Track record managing and scaling teams of
4+ data scientists . Proven technical leadership, mentoring, and performance management. Strong cross-functional collaboration with product, engineering, and business stakeholders. Soft Skills: Excellent communication and executive presentation skills. Analytical, detail-oriented, and business impact-driven. Preferred Experience
Insurance or financial services domain knowledge. Patent creation or applied research contributions. Experience bringing AI from prototype to market deployment. Why Join us as AI Innovation Lead?
Impact at scale:
Your work directly shapes our AI strategy and enterprise-wide transformation. Leadership visibility:
Collaborate with C-suite executives on strategic initiatives. Cutting-edge technology:
Apply Deep Learning, LLMs, and Generative AI to real-world problems. Career growth:
Build and lead a team that sets industry standards in responsible AI. Flexibility:
Hybrid model with relocation support or remote with travel. Competitive compensation & benefits:
Strong salary, comprehensive health benefits,
12% 401(k) match , 25% bonus.