Senior AI Engineer – Human Capital

OVERVIEW:

The D. E. Shaw group seeks a senior engineer with a deep interest in artificial intelligence (AI) to help lead its Human Capital (HC) team’s AI initiatives. This individual will play a central role in guiding the development and implementation of AI solutions that enhance the firm’s approach to attracting, assessing, and developing talent. The position offers the opportunity to lead strategic initiatives at the intersection of technology, people strategy, and product innovation, collaborating with colleagues across HC, product management, and software engineering.

WHAT YOU'LL DO DAY-TO-DAY:

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify where AI can transform work, translating business needs into practical, well-scoped solutions.
• Own the design and delivery of prototype solutions for high-impact use cases using Python.
• Drive integration of AI features across product and engineering teams, aligning with the firm's technical architecture and governance standards.
• Lead the evaluation and continuous refinement of AI tools by gathering feedback, monitoring outcomes, and recommending improvements.
• Set the team's point of view on the evolving AI landscape, guiding strategic and tactical decisions on new models, tooling, and best practices.
• Mentor and guide junior team members, setting technical direction and fostering a culture of learning.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• A bachelor’s degree and at least six years of experience in human capital, data science, or technology development, with exposure to AI technologies; managerial experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated fluency in Python, sound data fluency, and familiarity with LLMs and AI tools, including prompt design, Cursor, and Claude Code, as well as concepts like RAG and agentic architectures.
• Solid knowledge of statistical methods; experience in social science research methods is preferred.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, manage multiple workstreams, navigate cross-functional dependencies, and drive work forward with speed and ownership.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written communication skills, with a collaborative and proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into practical AI-driven solutions, influence stakeholders, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• The expected annual base salary for this position is $175,000 to $250,000. Our compensation and benefits package includes variable compensation in the form of a year-end bonus, guaranteed in the first year of hire, and benefits including medical and prescription drug coverage, 401(k) contribution matching, wellness reimbursement, family building benefits, and a charitable gift match program.