Machine Learning Data Scientist

Job#: 3039874

Job Description:
Machine Learning Data Scientist (contract)

Location: Remote

Pay Rate: $80-$90 Hourly (DoE)

Role Overview

As a Machine Learning Data Scientist, you will collaborate closely with researchers, engineers, designers, and product partners to evaluate emerging AI technologies, build rapid prototypes, and develop novel machine learning solutions that make advanced research understandable, usable, and testable. You will design experiments, create evaluation frameworks, fine-tune and validate models, and help identify which technologies warrant broader investment and adoption.

This role is ideal for a technically strong builder who enjoys ambiguity, learns quickly, and can move fluidly between research papers, datasets, prototypes, and production-scale systems. Success requires scientific rigor, strong product judgment, and a passion for turning breakthrough ideas into tools, workflows, and experiences that empower researchers, developers, and customers.

This role is ideal for a technically strong builder who enjoys ambiguity, learns quickly, and can move fluidly between research papers, datasets, prototypes, and production-scale systems. Success requires scientific rigor, strong product judgment, and a passion for turning breakthrough ideas into tools, workflows, and experiences that empower researchers, developers, and customers.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss projects that demonstrate the ability to translate research, emerging technology, or novel ideas into working prototypes, experiments, or deployed solutions.

Job Responsibilities:

Fine-tune and improve a variety of sophisticated software implementation projects

Gather and analyze system requirements, document specifications, and develop software solutions to meet client needs and data

Analyze and review enhancement requests and specifications

Implement system software and customize to client requirements

Prepare the detailed software specifications and test plans

Code new programs to client's specifications and create test data for testing

Modify existing programs to new standards and conduct unit testing of developed programs

Create migration packages for system testing, user testing, and implementation

Provide quality assurance reviews

Perform post-implementation validation of software and resolve any bugs found during testing

Additional Responsibilities:

Collaborate with Microsoft Research teams to evaluate, adapt, and operationalize emerging AI and machine learning innovations into functional prototypes and experimental systems.

Design and execute quantitative and qualitative experiments that measure model performance, user engagement, research impact, and technology adoption.

Develop evaluation frameworks, benchmarks, and success metrics for foundation models, generative AI systems, multimodal experiences, and agent-based workflows.

Fine-tune, validate, and benchmark machine learning models using real-world datasets and emerging research techniques.

Build rapid prototypes and proof-of-concepts that help researchers, partners, and stakeholders assess the practical value of new technologies.

Stay current with advances in machine learning, generative AI, agentic systems, multimodal models, and evaluation methodologies, identifying opportunities to apply new capabilities across Microsoft Research.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field is required.

Experience: 5-7 years of experience is required. Candidates must be available for at least a 12-month assignment.

Technical Skills:

• Strong foundations in software engineering, machine learning, statistics, and experimental design.
• Experience building data-intensive applications, machine learning systems, or AI-powered products.
• Experience evaluating, debugging, and improving machine learning models and data pipelines.
• Proficiency in programming with experience in problem diagnosis and resolution.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguous, rapidly changing environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Availability for an 18-month assignment.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new projects and deliver results quickly.
• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted coding and rapid prototyping.
• Experience with foundation models, generative AI systems, multimodal models, agentic workflows, or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).

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.

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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.

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