Your role and responsibilities
As an Associate Data Scientist, you will help solve business problems using statistics, machine learning, and data science techniques while contributing to generative AI and agentic AI workflows, along with open-source tools such as Python, R, and TensorFlow, IBM tools, and AI application suites. You will prepare, analyze, and understand data to deliver insight, predict emerging trends, evaluate model and workflow performance, and provide recommendations to stakeholders.
Collaborating closely with diverse teams, you will help select appropriate modeling approaches, identify the critical data needed for analysis, and translate complex model results into clear recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
In your role, you may be responsible for:- Prepare, cleanse, join, and analyze structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data for analytics, machine learning, GenAI, and agentic AI workflows.
- Implement and validate predictive, prescriptive, statistical, and machine learning models with a focus on measurable client and business outcomes.
- Design experiments, features, prompts, evaluation datasets, metrics, and tests to assess model outputs, workflow accuracy, reliability, bias, and business value.
- Build GenAI, RAG, and agentic AI workflows by evaluating retrieval quality, grounding, generated responses, tool-use outcomes, and end-to-end agent performance.
- Work in an Agile, collaborative environment with data scientists, data engineers, AI engineers, consultants, architects, and database administrators to bring analytical rigor and responsible AI practices to client challenges.
- Communicate with internal and external clients to understand business needs, select appropriate modeling techniques, and explain assumptions, limitations, and recommendations.
- Evaluate modeling results and present insights clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, translating findings into practical actions.
These positions are anticipated to start in 2027. We have positions open in these locations: Chicago
Required education
High School Diploma/GED
Preferred education
Bachelor's Degree
Required technical and professional expertise
- Strong fundamentals in mathematics, statistics, computer science, algorithms, and analytical reasoning.
- Familiarity with programming language such as Python, SQL, R, or similar.
- Foundational understanding of predictive modeling, prescriptive modeling, statistical methods, machine learning, GenAI and Agentic AI.
- Basic understanding of cloud environments, data platforms, or AI platforms such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud or similar.
- Strong technical and analytical abilities, problem solving, debugging, troubleshooting, teamwork, and communication skills.
- Willingness to travel up to 100%, based on project requirements.
Preferred technical and professional experience
- Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, MIS, Engineering, AI/ML, or another quantitative field.
- Coursework, projects, internship experience, or portfolio work involving data science, machine learning, analytics, GenAI and Agentic AI.
- Familiarity with LLMs, embeddings, vector databases, retrieval systems, prompt workflows, RAG, model behavior evaluation, and AI agent workflow patterns.
- Exposure to orchestration and agentic AI frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, LlamaIndex, Semantic Kernel, AutoGen, MCP-based tooling, or similar tools.
- Understanding of Git, containers, APIs, testing frameworks, CI/CD, MLOps, LLMOps, observability, model monitoring, data governance, privacy, security, or responsible AI practices.
OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILSIBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:
- Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
- Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs
- Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
- Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
- Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.
This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.
IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.
The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.
