Senior AI Scientist
2 days ago• Philadelphia, PA
Charlotte, NCDallas, TXMalvern, PA
About the Role
This role sits at the intersection of AI safety research, LLM evaluation, and applied data science. You will design and run adversarial evaluations against production AI agents, develop quantitative frameworks to measure evaluation quality, and translate findings into actionable insights for application teams and business stakeholders. You will also mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the growth of our AI safety research practice.
Responsibilities
- Design and execute adversarial evaluations of generative AI and agentic systems, probing for safety failures, policy violations, and unexpected behaviors under realistic conditions
- Apply rigorous experimental design and statistical methodology to AI safety research questions, including evaluation of model robustness and the reliability of automated evaluation systems
- Develop and validate quantitative frameworks for assessing LLM outputs and measuring evaluation quality at scale
- Build and maintain data pipelines to process large-scale evaluation outputs, aggregate metrics, and surface trends for research and stakeholder consumption
- Engage directly with internal stakeholders including application teams, security analysts, and business leaders to explain findings and translate complex analytical results into clear, actionable recommendations
- Mentor and develop junior data scientists and analysts on the team
- Stay current with emerging literature in adversarial ML, LLM safety, and AI evaluation; contribute to the team's evolving research agenda
- Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of experience in data science, applied ML research, or AI evaluation roles
- Hands-on experience with large language models and agentic AI systems, with working knowledge of LLM behavior, failure modes, and safety evaluation techniques
- Familiarity with adversarial AI concepts including jailbreaks, prompt injection, and model robustness, whether through direct research or applied work
- Strong programming skills in Python, including experience with data pipelines, large-scale experimentation, and ML libraries such as PyTorch, Hugging Face, or Scikit-learn
- Solid foundation in statistical reasoning and experimental design: hypothesis formulation, significance testing, and the ability to identify confounds and methodological flaws in existing analyses
- Experience in financial services, AI safety, trust and safety, or a regulated industry is a strong plus
- Clear, confident communication skills with the ability to explain technical findings to both research peers and non-technical stakeholders
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a related quantitative field; Master's degree or equivalent research experience preferred
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Special Factors
Sponsorship
Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.
About Vanguard
At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission-we're on a mission.
To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.
How We Work
Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
Client-provided location(s): Philadelphia, PA, Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Malvern, PA
Job ID: Vanguard-178440
Employment Type: FULL_TIME
Posted: 2026-07-19T19:53:05
Perks and Benefits
Health and Wellness
- FSA
- HSA
- Health Reimbursement Account
- Fitness Subsidies
- On-Site Gym
- HSA With Employer Contribution
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
- Mental Health Benefits
- Virtual Fitness Classes
- Pet Insurance
Parental Benefits
- Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
- Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
- Fertility Benefits
- Adoption Assistance Program
- Family Support Resources
- Adoption Leave
Work Flexibility
- Flexible Work Hours
- Hybrid Work Opportunities
Office Life and Perks
- Company Outings
- Commuter Benefits Program
- Casual Dress
- Happy Hours
- Snacks
- Some Meals Provided
- On-Site Cafeteria
Vacation and Time Off
- Personal/Sick Days
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Vacation
- Volunteer Time Off
- Leave of Absence
Financial and Retirement
- Relocation Assistance
- Performance Bonus
- 401(K) With Company Matching
- 401(K)
- Financial Counseling
- Profit Sharing
Professional Development
- Promote From Within
- Mentor Program
- Shadowing Opportunities
- Access to Online Courses
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Internship Program
- Lunch and Learns
- Leadership Training Program
Diversity and Inclusion
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
- Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
Company Videos
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