Data Scientist (GenAI / Machine Learning)

Data Scientist (GenAI / Machine Learning) Contract-to-Hire - No C2C Major Investment Firm Newark, NJ (Hybrid – 3 days/week onsite) Pay Rate: $55–$65/hr on W2 A major investment firm is seeking a Data Scientist to join its US Businesses Data Science Team, focused on building GenAI and machine learning solutions that enhance advisor experience, improve lead scoring, and drive sales outcomes. This role combines hands-on model development with business impact, working closely with ML Engineers, Data Engineers, and business stakeholders to deliver scalable AI solutions. Key Responsibilities • Lead and contribute to high-impact data science initiatives focused on sales and advisor experience • Design, build, train, and deploy machine learning and GenAI models • Identify opportunities to apply AI/ML to improve efficiency, customer experience, and revenue • Communicate model design, insights, and results clearly to both technical and business stakeholders • Implement best practices for model development, testing, and monitoring • Support deployment using CI/CD pipelines and AI/ML platforms • Continuously improve models and generate new ideas based on insights and performance • Work on complex problems requiring advanced analytical thinking and evaluation of multiple variables Required Qualifications • Background in Computer Science, Applied Statistics, Engineering, or related field • Hands-on experience developing and delivering AI/ML solutions in a production environment • Strong programming skills in Python and SQL • Experience working with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) • Familiarity with Agile methodologies and Test-Driven Development (TDD) • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills Technical Skills • Machine Learning (supervised/unsupervised, XGBoost, etc.) • Experience with LLMs (OpenAI, Claude) and GenAI concepts • Familiarity with RAG, LangChain, LangGraph, and Agentic AI frameworks • Model deployment using CI/CD pipelines and tools such as Jenkins, Harness, or CloudBees • Experience with AWS SageMaker or similar ML platforms • Data acquisition and transformation using APIs, SQL, and Python • Strong understanding of data modeling, databases, and schema design • Data analysis, visualization, and statistical modeling Preferred Qualifications • Experience leading or mentoring small teams • Experience influencing business stakeholders and driving adoption of AI solutions • Strong understanding of end-to-end ML lifecycle and production deployment