Principal Data Scientist

At First Advantage (Nasdaq: FA), people are at the heart of everything we do. From our customers and partners to our greatest advantage — our team members. Operating with empathy and compassion, First Advantage fosters a global inclusive workforce devoted to the diverse voices that make up our talent and products. Our team members empower each other to be their authentic selves and treat all with respect, integrity, and fairness.
Say hello to a rewarding career and come join a leading provider of mission-critical background screening solutions to some of the most recognized Fortune 100 and Global 500 brands.
We are seeking a Principal Data Scientist to serve as a technical leader, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously while providing technical and architectural guidance to the team for both ongoing and new initiatives. This role requires close collaboration with product owners and the Data Scientist team to translate business challenges into analytical problems, effectively determining and implementing appropriate AI and machine learning methods. The candidate should stay updated with cutting-edge research and tools to drive the team forward. Furthermore, they should be motivated to take ownership in delivering robust solutions with high quality and excellent customer support.
The candidate is expected to show a strong interest and proactive approach in translating business challenges into analytical problems, effectively identifying and implementing suitable AI and machine learning methods. Strong analytical skills are essential, as candidates should be comfortable processing and manipulating large datasets in various formats. Familiarity with a range of analytical methods—such as descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics—as well as experience with NLP, deep learning, and tools like Python, SQL, and Excel, is highly desired. Additionally, experience with cloud technologies (Azure, AWS, Google), particularly in executing machine learning algorithms in the cloud with a focus on CI/CD practices, would be a significant advantage.
What We Do:
We are on the frontline of recruitment enabling organizations to Hire Smarter. Onboard Faster™ First Advantage is an HR Tech company delivering innovative solutions and insights to enable our clients to manage risk and hire the best talent. Leveraging an advanced technology platform, First Advantage builds fully scalable, configurable screening programs that meet the unique needs of over 33,000 clients. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA and with an internationally distributed workforce spanning 19 countries with about 5,500 employees, First Advantage performs over 93 million screens in over 200 countries and territories annually.
Who You Are:
You are self-motivated and ready to “roll up your sleeves." While you are an independent contributor, you are also collaborative. You can spearhead a project and see it through from start to completion.
As a team player, you navigate cross-functional teams and work well with team members in other business units and departments toward a common goal.
An Innovator — you see gaps in current processes or workflows as an opportunity to improve and try something new.
A lifelong learner and always seeking out opportunities to learn and upskill, you understand the importance of thorough and secure screenings and are interested in the Human Capital sector and the confluence of people, process, and technology.
What You'll Do
Responsibilities:
Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with product owners, product engineers, and stakeholders to effectively communicate findings, insights, and recommendations, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment
Problem Solving: Apply data analysis and data science methodologies to address complex business problems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand and translate business needs into analytical solutions.
Data Exploration, Cleaning, Analysis and Modelling: Explore and clean diverse datasets, identifying patterns, trends, and outliers to ensure data quality and reliability in subsequent analyses. Devote a significant portion of time to conducting advanced statistical analyses, implementing machine learning algorithms, and developing predictive models to derive actionable insights from large datasets
Algorithm Development and Model Deployment: Design and implement algorithms in production environment, create ML pipelines using CI/CD process, develop API, write unit test cases, take signoff approvals and so on
Software Engineering Standards and Documentation: Maintain engineering code standards, prepare documentation
Innovation, Research and Continuous Learning: Allocate time for exploring innovative approaches, researching new technologies, and contributing to the advancement of data science within the organization
What You May Need to be Successful:
Bachelors/Master/PhD in any discipline (Preferably Engineering)
10+ years of experience in Artificial Intelligence, data science or a related field.
Proven track record of leading data science projects from conception to deployment
2+ years of experience in developing and deploying generative AI models (e.g., GANs, VAEs, transformers). Skilled in guiding an AI team and leading a group of Data Scientists, Data Engineers, and Analysts
Experience in collaborating with stakeholders, wider team members, to define project objectives, scope, requirement gathering and deliverables.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Experience in MLOps, Azure ML Pipeline
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and familiarity with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
Strong understanding of natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision techniques.
Proficiency in LLM and understanding of RAG architecture is a must 
Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) for deploying AI solutions.
Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark).
It is a HUGE PLUS to have experience in a consulting environment, particularly external (ie. Working for a company for the benefit of another)
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Certifications in data science or AI can be a plus
A portfolio showcasing previous projects or contributions to open-source projects can be beneficial.
Staying updated with the latest research and trends in data science and AI.
Working hours - Required to work with onsite product owner team in the evenings
Why First Advantage is Your Next Big Career Move
First Advantage is going through a technology transformation! We are looking for experts who are excited to work with advanced technologies and provide best-in-class user experiences, drive the development and deployment of scalable solutions, and smoothly guide our agile teams and clients through meaningful changes as we continue to expand our impact.
What Are You Waiting For? Apply Today!
You have learned a little about us today – we want to learn about you! If you think this position and our company are a great fit for your areas of interest and expertise, tell us about you by applying now!
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS – India Region: 
Most of the roles are enabled with the ability to work remotely with occasional business travel. Hybrid working model 
Comprehensive employee Leave policy 
Career progressions through Internal job opportunities and Global Talent mobility programs 
Career Development: Mentoring Program, People Management Program, cross-functions training, soft skills training.
Continuous learning and development opportunities. Upskilling and reskilling opportunities mobilized through e-learning platforms
Training and Certification reimbursement programs
Medical Insurance coverage for employees and parental insurance benefits available. Calendarized Employee Wellness programs
Quarterly Rewards and Recognition program to recognize exemplary performance
Other attractive allowances – Weekend working, Holiday pay, Relocation assistance, Maternity bonus, Creche allowance & Other allowance etc.