Director, Applied Science
At a glance
Director-level AI Research role at Tekion. Bengaluru · full-time.
Pay not stated AI Research salary
aimlroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Lead applied scientists and machine learning engineers as they build and launch advanced models and algorithms
- Set the research direction and technical roadmap for applied science work around business priorities
- Guide model testing, assessment and production rollout, then work with product, engineering and data teams on system integration
- Set expectations for rigorous, reproducible experimentation and responsible AI while coaching your team
- Track delivery, clear project obstacles and represent applied science in executive planning
What you bring
- A PhD or master’s degree in machine learning, computer science, statistics or a related discipline
- At least sixteen years in applied science or machine learning, including three or more years managing people
- A track record of putting machine learning models into production, plus strong Python skills and PyTorch or TensorFlow experience
- Deep knowledge of supervised, unsupervised and deep learning methods
Who this fits
This is a director-level role for someone who can lead a technical team, set research priorities and deliver production machine learning work. The position is onsite in Bengaluru, India.
From the employer
About Tekion:
Positively disrupting an industry that has not seen any innovation in over 50 years, Tekion has challenged the paradigm with the first and fastest cloud-native automotive platform that includes the revolutionary Automotive Retail Cloud (ARC) for retailers, Automotive Enterprise Cloud (AEC) for manufacturers and other large automotive enterprises and Automotive Partner Cloud (APC) for technology and industry partners. Tekion connects the entire spectrum of the automotive retail ecosystem through one seamless platform. The transformative platform uses cutting-edge technology, big data, machine learning, and AI to seamlessly bring together OEMs, retailers/dealers and consumers. With its highly configurable integration and greater customer engagement capabilities, Tekion is enabling the best automotive retail experiences ever. Tekion employs close to 3,000 people across North America, Asia and Europe.
Summary:
Responsible for leading advanced applied science initiatives that drive innovation, optimize business outcomes, and expand the capabilities of data-driven products and services. This role requires strategic oversight, technical excellence, and the ability to translate scientific advancements into real-world applications. It involves cross-functional collaboration, mentoring, and execution of complex machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Lead a team of applied scientists and machine learning engineers in developing and deploying advanced models and algorithms.
• Drive the technical vision, research agenda, and roadmap for applied science initiatives aligned with business priorities.
• Oversee experimentation, evaluation, and deployment of machine learning models into production environments.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Data teams to integrate models into scalable systems.
• Champion best practices in scientific rigor, experimentation, reproducibility, and responsible AI.
• Mentor team members and foster a high-performance culture grounded in innovation and continuous learning.
• Monitor project progress, remove blockers, and ensure delivery of high-impact outcomes on time and within scope.
• Represent the applied science function in executive and strategic planning discussions.
Qualifications:
• PhD or Master’s degree in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• 16+ years of experience in applied science or machine learning roles, including at least 3 years in a management role.
• Proven experience building and deploying ML models in production systems.
• Deep understanding of supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning techniques.
• Strong coding skills in Python and proficiency with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Experience managing complex technical projects and delivering measurable business impact.
Current Tekion Employees: Please apply via the Internal Job Board in Ashby
Note: Tekion recently transitioned to a new recruiting tool and we appreciate your patience and feedback as we adjust to our new system!
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