Senior Data Scientist

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist – AI, Machine Learning, NLP & Risk Analytics
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid) – Local Candidates PreferredEmployment Type: Full-Time / Contract (Based on Client Requirements)Work Authorization: USC, GC, and H1B Candidates EligibleExperience Required: 14+ Years
About the Opportunity
We are hiring on behalf of our client for an experienced Senior Data Scientist with deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Risk Analytics, and Operations Research. This role requires a seasoned professional capable of developing advanced predictive models, optimization solutions, and AI-driven analytics platforms to support large-scale business operations.
The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in insurance risk analytics, claims modeling, fraud detection, incident prediction, and advanced optimization techniques while leveraging modern cloud data platforms and AI technologies.
Key Responsibilities
AI, Machine Learning & Advanced Analytics
Design, develop, and deploy machine learning and predictive analytics solutions.Build scalable AI models for risk assessment, incident prediction, and business intelligence.Develop explainable AI solutions using techniques such as SHAP, LIME, and related frameworks.Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.Evaluate and improve model performance, reliability, and governance.
Claims & Risk Analytics
Develop and maintain:Claims Analytics modelsInsurance Risk Modeling frameworksFraud Detection and Fraud Analytics solutionsSeverity Prediction ModelsIncident Prediction ModelsAnalyze structured and unstructured datasets to identify emerging risks and trends.Support underwriting, claims operations, and risk management initiatives through advanced analytics.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) & LLM Applications
Design and implement NLP pipelines for large-scale text processing.Develop solutions involving:Text ClassificationClaims Narrative AnalysisIncident Report AnalysisInformation ExtractionSemantic SearchLLM-based ApplicationsFine-tune and deploy NLP models for business-critical use cases.
Operations Research & Optimization
Develop optimization solutions utilizing:
Linear Programming (LP)Integer Programming (IP)Mixed Integer Programming (MIP)CPLEXGurobi
Responsibilities include:
Resource allocation optimizationScheduling optimizationCapacity planningNetwork and operational efficiency modelingDecision-support systems development
Data Architecture & Governance
Design scalable data architectures using modern cloud platforms.Build and optimize data pipelines using Databricks and Snowflake.Establish and maintain data governance standards.Ensure proper handling and protection of PII and sensitive business data.Collaborate with engineering teams to implement enterprise-grade data solutions.
Industry Analytics
Apply advanced analytics methodologies within:
Hospitality Industry AnalyticsTravel Industry AnalyticsInsurance Analytics
Required Skills & Qualifications
Mandatory Experience
14+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, or Advanced Analytics.Strong experience in:Claims AnalyticsInsurance Risk ModelingFraud AnalyticsIncident PredictionSeverity ModelingExplainable AI (SHAP, LIME, etc.)Hospitality AnalyticsTravel Industry AnalyticsData GovernancePII HandlingData Architecture
Technical Expertise
Machine Learning & Statistical ModelingNatural Language Processing (NLP)Large Language Models (LLMs)DatabricksSnowflakePythonSQLSparkCloud-based Analytics Platforms
Optimization & Operations Research
Hands-on experience with:
Linear Programming (LP)Integer Programming (IP)Mixed Integer Programming (MIP)CPLEXGurobi
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in insurance, travel, hospitality, or risk management domains.Experience deploying AI models in production environments.Strong stakeholder communication and leadership skills.Experience mentoring junior data scientists and analytics teams.
Nice to Have
MLOps and Model Governance experience.Generative AI and Agentic AI implementation experience.Experience with knowledge graphs and advanced recommendation systems.Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.

How to Apply
Qualified candidates meeting the above requirements are encouraged to apply with their updated resume, including project details highlighting experience in AI, Machine Learning, NLP, Risk Analytics, Claims Analytics, Insurance Modeling, Fraud Detection, and Optimization Solutions.
Note: Local candidates near Chicago, IL will be given preference for this hybrid opportunity.