Innovation AI/ML Data Scientist in Chicago

Our client is a distinguished global provider of legal services. This is a full-time, direct hire onsite role. We are seeking an accomplished Innovation AI/ML Data Scientist to architect and implement advanced, data-driven solutions that improve quality, efficiency, and decision-making throughout the firm's legal services and operations.

In close collaboration with attorneys, innovation leaders, and cross-functional enterprise teams, you will translate complex legal and organizational challenges into secure, scalable artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. You will oversee the entire solution lifecycle-from experimentation and performance measurement through deployment and ongoing monitoring. Responsibilities include curating and governing datasets, establishing successful criteria for accuracy and safety, and developing production-ready models and applications, including both large model (LLM)-based and traditional machine learning approaches.

Reporting to the Director of Innovation Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in advancing and expanding the firm's data science initiatives-streamlining routine processes, producing actionable insights, and enabling new capabilities that enhance client outcomes and organizational efficacy.

The firm maintains rigorous standards for performance and cultivates a growth-oriented culture. Individuals who demonstrate initiative and commitment will have opportunities for expanded responsibilities and long-term career growth within the organization.

Must be a U.S. or Green Card holder - We cannot accept work visas or sponsorship at this time, · Translate Legal Workflows into AI Solutions - Facilitate discovery sessions with attorneys and practice stakeholders to systematically map end-to-end legal processes into actionable data and LLM requirements, along with measurable success criteria and evaluation plans aligned with business objectives.

· Design and Prototype Intelligent Applications - Architect and assess AI/ML solutions, including retrieval-augmented (RAG) pipelines, vector database integrations, and orchestration frameworks, to determine feasibility, optimize performance, and ensure scalability.

· Deliver High-Impact Legal Use Cases - Develop robust solutions addressing contract analysis, due diligence review, document summarization, large-scale agreement comparisons, and other practice-driven requirements.

· Establish Evaluation & Governance Frameworks - Define and implement rigorous production-ready evaluation standards, focusing on accuracy, robustness, bias and fairness, hallucination mitigation, and business-aligned performance benchmarks, with ongoing monitoring protocols.

· Develop Reusable Assets & Libraries - Create comprehensive internal libraries, documentation, and standardized development practices to promote efficient and scalable delivery of AI solutions.

· Collaborate Across Technical & Legal Teams - Engage closely with embedded data science teams and business stakeholders to align priorities, co-create solutions, and drive successful adoption across practice groups.

· Communicate Insights with Clarity - Present evaluation results, trade-offs, risks, and projected outcomes in clear, accessible terms for non-technical stakeholders, including attorneys and business leaders.

· Advance Innovation Strategy - Assess emerging technologies, open-source tools, and vendor platforms to inform technology strategy, contribute to internal thought leadership, and support firmwide AI enablement initiatives.

· Mentor & Enable Growth - Guide and mentor data scientists and engineers, encourage knowledge sharing, and strengthen the organization's AI capabilities., Company DescriptionWe Place People is a premiere Executive Search Firm working with leading companies nationwide. We have a direct relationship with our clients and a 95% hire rate! We differentiate ourselves from other firms & work closely with our candidates throughout the interview process. WE PLACE PEOPLE is what we do best!Company DescriptionWe Place People is a premiere Executive Search Firm working with leading companies nationwide. We have a direct relationship with our clients and a 95% hire rate! We differentiate ourselves from other firms & work closely with our candidates throughout the interview process. WE PLACE PEOPLE is what we do best!

· Bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, mathematics, engineering, or a related quantitative discipline required; preference given to candidates with advanced degrees.

· Minimum of seven years delivering AI/ML solutions within professional services, financial, legal, or technical sectors, featuring significant cross-functional collaboration among legal and business stakeholders.

· Proficient in Python for data analysis, statistical modeling, and AI/ML prototyping (including pandas, PyTorch, TensorFlow); skilled in advanced SQL; experienced in constructing data pipelines and preparing both structured and unstructured datasets.

· AI & LLM Application Knowledge: Practical experience with AI platforms and tools, such as OpenAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI, Hugging Face, LangFlow, and LangChain; strong understanding of vector databases, retrieval methods for unstructured data, and knowledge graph-based applications.

· Demonstrated ability to design and implement evaluation frameworks for enterprise AI solutions, including monitoring accuracy, robustness, hallucinations, bias, and fairness.

· Experienced with data visualization tools including Plotly, Tableau, and Microsoft Power BI; capable of translating complex findings into actionable insights.

· Familiarity with legal use cases such as due diligence, contract review, and legal research; prior experience in a law firm or Microsoft Azure environment is .

· Proven track record mentoring colleagues, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams, and promoting widespread adoption of AI solutions.

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