The Principal AI Scientist role at our San Diego office is a senior leadership position within the Data team, requiring extensive experience and expertise in artificial intelligence. This individual will lead teams focused on machine learning, natural language processing, statistics, or optimization, driving the development of innovative solutions to critical business challenges. Day-to-day responsibilities include conducting hands-on research, influencing executive-level decisions, and mentoring colleagues while overseeing the creation of foundational ML methods and novel applications from cutting-edge technologies. The ideal candidate possesses a PhD in a relevant field, with at least 6 years of experience manipulating large datasets and programming in languages like Python or Scala. Expertise in ML pipelines and strong communication skills are essential for this role, which involves shaping multi-year visions that align product strategy with technology advancements.
Skills
Python
R
SQL
Scala
ML pipelines
NLP
Statistics
Optimization
CI/CD
What you'll do
Leads team’s work in machine learning, natural language processing, statistics, or optimization.
Weighs ROI for general and tailored AI capabilities in projects.
Develops new solutions to solve critical business problems using advanced ML technologies.
Influences business leaders to shape mission-critical projects with strategic vision.
Drives architecture decisions and contributes to the ML platform strategy.
What we're looking for
PhD or MS in Engineering Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or related field.
6+ years of experience with large datasets and general-purpose programming languages.
Expert knowledge in ML, NLP, Statistics, or Optimization with hands-on experience.
Proven ability to influence executive-level decision-making and shape critical projects.
Strong leadership skills with a track record of successfully delivering ML solutions.
Market check
Salary context
This
$237,000–$320,500
range sits above
88%
of similar postings on FindRole.
Peer median band
$172,100–$257,000
Median floor and ceiling across peers.
Typical midpoint (25–75%)
$165,000–$247,531
Middle half of comparable postings.
Based on 240 comparable postings.*
* 240 is the maximum number of comparable postings sampled.
Employer
About Intuit
Intuit is a financial software company known for products like TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mint, and Credit Karma, helping consumers and small businesses manage their finances and taxes. Industry: Financial Software & Technology
Intuit currently has
112 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$202,500–$274,000
across 102 roles with salary data.
Python
scikit-learn
R
SQL
Hive
SparkSQL
Linux
data mining
clustering
classification
regression
decision trees
neural nets
support vector machines
anomaly detection
recommender systems
sequential pattern discovery
text mining
A/B testing
statistical analysis
Python
SQL
R
Scala
ML pipelines
NLP
Statistics
Optimization
Data manipulation
Large datasets
Database experience
Machine learning models
Deep learning
CI/CD